‘With Militao’s injury, a good part of Real Madrid’s sporting planning has also fallen apart. Almost at the same time that the seriousness of the Brazilian‘s new physical setback became known, Madrid crumpled up its future plan in central defense into a paper ball and threw it in the trash. Madrid knows that there is a before and an after Militao’s injury and that this forces it to rethink the short-term future in a position that is once again hanging by a thread.‘
Galactic signing, Rüdiger renewal and Asencio’s future
Madrid had a more or less outlined plan to define its center-back roster for next season before Militao’s serious setback. The Brazilian and Huijsen were set to be two pillars, Rüdiger would be offered a renewal, Alaba will not continue after his contract expires, and Asencio had been labeled as transferable. In fact, the sale of the academy product would provide a financial boost when it came to taking on the signing of a truly top-level center-back. In short, two spots secured, one renewal, one departure and one sale to invest in a galáctico with whom to significantly strengthen the heart of the defense. Depending on how the different negotiations were resolved, names such as Jacobo Ramón, shining at Como and with an eight-million-euro buyback option, and some academy players, such as Joan Martínez, Aguado and Valdepeñas, would start to be put on the table. The idea was clear beyond the difficulty of successfully carrying through the negotiation for the galáctico center-back and resolving Rüdiger’s continuity, which is not going to be easy because the German has many offers on the table as a free agent.
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Jacobo Ramón and the blockage to academy players’ exits
But Militao’s injury changes everything. First of all, because the Brazilian’s situation is worrying. It is not a question of how long it will take him to recover; what already seriously concerns Madrid is whether he will return to being the player he was before and what his competitive level will be in the long term. All of this is based on the fact that he is facing his third surgery in four years and that in recent seasons he has only been able to play 52 of the 179 matches played by Madrid.
One of the pillars of the future alongside Huijsen is wobbling, and that has consequences. The first is that Madrid now has to consider some reinforcement beyond the planned galactic signing. Especially if Rüdiger does not renew, a negotiation that has now become urgent for Madrid, which would breathe easier if it could secure the German for at least one more year. The possible sale of Asencio will be put on hold pending developments, and the same will happen with the departures of Joan Martínez, Aguado and Valdepeñas.
All three have good offers, but Madrid needs them as cover until everything is under control. No green light will be given to any of them without having the center-back roster outlined, because they are potential first-team players. In addition, the operation to bring Jacobo Ramón back could be accelerated as a measure to secure an immediate reinforcement before the summer.
Dr. Ripoll warns: “His biomechanics have changed”
Madrid’s concern after Militao’s latest physical problem is medically supported. Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll explains the reasons behind the white club’s worry regarding the Brazilian defender. “Militao has suffered two injuries in both knees that required a reinforcement graft to reconstruct the damaged anterior cruciate ligament. The incorporation of a ligament graft causes the biomechanics to change completely, especially in the control of the joint’s internal rotation in a semi-flexed position. An operated knee alters biomechanical standards. In addition, the brain’s control over the graft is not the same as with the natural ligament. Stability control is not fully guaranteed and that has consequences: muscle injuries,” points out Ripoll.
A precise and detailed care of his physique
Dr. Ripoll goes further and warns that Militao will need adjustments in his daily work upon his return and also in his sports planning to avoid further physical setbacks. “The hamstring muscles, where Militao has suffered his last two injuries, work synergistically with the anterior cruciate ligament, and that causes injuries in that area to increase, because the function of the hamstring muscles changes completely after ligament reconstruction. They work harder to protect it, and that greater demand causes tears. After cruciate ligament surgery, the hamstrings become more important in knee stability in order to protect the graft. Therefore, their function is altered and they are more susceptible to suffering further injuries. For this reason, from now on all of these functional and neuromuscular deficits of Militao must be trained with precision and appropriately, so that the player can respond to the demands of playing for Real Madrid,” he explains.
