Real Madrid has a date set for its April 'reinforcement' to return to action.
Anonymous sources at Real Madrid have told AS that the return of a formerly injured first team star is "imminent".
Los Blancos infamously lost both goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and center back Eder Militao to the same ACL injury in the same August week at the start of the season.
While the Belgian didn't even make it to Matchday 1 after pulling up in training, the Brazilian at least ran out against Athletic Club in San Mames before being confined to the sidelines.
The players were written off for the rest of the 2023/2024 season, but impressive progress made in recovery meant they were tipped by MARCA to be two "luxury signings" for a Champions League quarterfinal clash against a team described as one of the "best in Europe" by head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Last week, though, a mixture of tragedy and bad luck again struck when Courtois injured his other knee in training.
This caused him to leave a Valdebebas session in tears, with the club later confirming his knock and MARCA reporting it as sufficient for Courtois to once more bid "adios" to the rest of the campaign.
There is good news elsewhere, though. With Madrid set to host Athletic Club in this term's return fixture on Sunday, AS reports that Militao's comeback is "imminent".
Ancelotti planned to use Militao and Courtois in two training friendlies over the international break, but he Militao miss the weekend's match against the Basques and the first leg showdown versus City on April 9.
Militao is therefore expected to make an April 13 trip to Mallorca in the league ahead of travelling to Manchester to face City for the April 17 last eight decider at the Etihad.
This is a boost for Ancelotti's men on the whole, and more specifically for the defense plus midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.
As David Alaba remains on the sick list through an ACL setback of his own, Aurelien Tchouameni has often been providing cover at the heart of the back line with Nacho and Antonio Rudiger previously Ancelotti's sole natural choices.
With Militao back in the mix, however, the Frenchman can move up the pitch and form a "triangle" with Militao and Rudiger that provides the first XI with plenty of muscle to fight for top honors at home and on the continent.
