Real Madrid and French National Team midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is expected to miss eight to ten weeks with a knee ligament injury. The 21-year-old collided with French teammate and PSG winger Ousmane Dembélé during a national team training session earlier this week. 

While the injury initially looked to be minor, Camavinga returned back to Spain to receive further treatment in Madrid. It was there that it was revealed he had “torn the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.” While not as serious as an ACL or MCL injury, the Los Blancos star is still projected to be out for the rest of 2023. 

Despite his youth, Camavinga has been one of Madrid’s most influential figures over the last two seasons. With the versatility to play as a fullback or in his natural role as a defensive midfielder, Camavinga’s work-rate is unlike many others. His absence comes at a pivotal time for Madrid as the 35-time Spanish Champions are set to face off with Napoli and Union Berlin in the Champions League, and still must battle a surging Real Betis team in LaLiga, all before the end of the year. 

With Camavinga injured, Los Blancos may be without their three best players for the foreseeable future. Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior was removed from a match against Colombia on Thursday for what appeared to be a hamstring issue. A concerning sign for the speedster, who suffered a similar injury earlier this season which sidelined him for a month. Also, during the international break, superstar attacker Jude Bellingham announced that he was withdrawing from the England team because of a shoulder injury. While the Englishman is expected to be back prior to Camavinga and Vinícius, Madrid are certainly sitting in a precarious situation. 

Real Madrid is currently second in LaLiga, trailing first place Girona by just two points. While Madrid is certainly within striking distance, the injuries are piling up in the Spanish capital. Los Blancos are already without keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Aurélien Tchouaméni, while Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão are both set to miss a large swathe of time with ACL tears.