Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti quashed any rumours of David Alaba’s imminent retirement by revealing that the injured defender is nearing a return to full fitness.

Alaba became the third Madrid player to be struck down by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury last season, sustaining serious damage to his knee in a 4-1 victory over Villarreal in December 2023. While Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao both returned to the pitch within within eight months, the versatile 32-year-old is yet to complete his recovery.

Further surgery was required in May after a minor setback as the club became increasingly reluctant to offer any vague timescale for his rehabilitation. Rumours of Alaba being forced into retirement even surfaced during the October international break, although those spurious whispers were quickly silenced by Real Madrid’s head coach.

“Alaba will be back,” Ancelotti told the assembled media ahead of Madrid’s trip to Celta Vigo on Saturday, “he’ll soon be working with the team and he’s recovering well.”

The Austria international – who served as his nation’s non-playing captain during their run to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 – is not Madrid’s only fitness concern. Dani Carvajal’s season has already been concluded by a severe ACL tear earlier this month, while the club’s highly rated teenager centre-back, Joan Martinez, also sustained a long-term knee injury.

This spate of absences has sparked rumours of Madrid resorting to the January transfer window for more bodies, with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold floated as a potential arrival in winter or this summer.

Ancelotti dismissed the idea of Madrid’s dependence on the upcoming winter market. “I haven’t asked the club for reinforcements,” the Italian insisted. “Last year we handled the injuries we had well and we’re going to do the same this season. If we need a certain player for Real Madrid, we won’t rule out signing him, but it’s not that simple. We have homegrown players who can contribute.”

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