Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be unavailable for another four to six weeks after suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee during training on Tuesday, sources told ESPN.
Belgian international Courtois, 31, was close to returning to the team after a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee required surgery last August, causing him to miss the entire 2023-24 season so far.
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Courtois was expected to return to action next month at a crucial stage of the campaign, with Madrid top of LaLiga and set to face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“Following tests carried out today, Thibaut Courtois has been diagnosed with a tear of the internal meniscus in his right knee,” Madrid said in a statement on Tuesday. “The injury occurred during training today. The injury will be monitored.”
Sources told ESPN that Courtois left training on Tuesday crying and visibly affected by what happened.
He had progressively returned to training with his teammates in recent weeks, with coach Carlo Ancelotti this weekend expected to be available in April, with Madrid playing City in the quarter-final first leg on the 9th. April at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Both the club and Courtois are now reluctant to speculate on a new recovery time from this latest injury, but sources assure that it is most likely that the goalkeeper will not play again this season.
