Real Madrid’s promising defender Joan Martinez has suffered a major setback after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a training session.
The injury occurred following an accidental collision with new signing Endrick Felipe. At just 16 years of age, Martinez was seen as a rising star within the Real Madrid squad and was expected to play a significant role in the upcoming season.
But unfortunately, this injury will likely sideline him for the entire 2024-25 campaign.
The incident reportedly took place shortly after the team concluded their training session last Friday. According to sources from Marca, the collision between Martinez and Endrick was unintentional and yet it resulted in a devastating outcome for the young defender.
While this is a tough blow for Martinez, his teammates and fans are rallying behind him offering support as he begins a lengthy recovery process.
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Endrick Felipe, who recently joined Real Madrid has had a difficult start at the club. The Brazilian teenager has struggled to make a mark during the pre-season matches in the United States and this latest incident has added to the challenges he faces.
Despite the unfortunate injury to Martinez, Endrick is not at fault as such collisions are an inherent risk in football training.
Real Madrid have invested heavily in Endrick and with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr ahead of him in the pecking order, the young forward will need to work hard to secure regular playing time.
Meanwhile, the club has reportedly turned down loan inquiries from Premier League clubs including Newcastle United, indicating their desire to keep him at the Bernabeu and help him develop within their ranks.
As for Martinez, the next step involves waiting for the inflammation to subside before scheduling surgery. Following the operation, a recovery period of 6-7 months is expected. Despite this setback, the prognosis is positive as only the cruciate ligament was affected, sparing the meniscus and lateral ligament.
Real Madrid will now have to navigate the season with limited options in the centre-back position while hoping that Martinez can make a strong comeback next year.