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Former Liverpool midfielder — and one-time managerial target — Xabi Alonso hasn't had the rosiest time to his start in Real Madrid. His side has won just one of its last five La Liga matches and sits four points behind Barcelona.
Alonso's team has dealt with a myriad of injuries in defense. Both Dean Huijsen and David Alaba. Antonio Rudiger only returned to fitness. New signing Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off midweek and is expected to be out until January.
Then, Eder Militao — once linked to the Reds — limped off in the 24th minute of a disastrous 2-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday. The 27-year-old Brazilian suffered a serious hamstring injury and will miss four months, potentially re-opening the door for Real Madrid to make a move for Ibrahima Konate in January.
This is far from Militao's first serious injury. He tore his ACL in the summer of 2023 and missed most of the season. His return was short-lived: the Brazilian tore it again in November of 2024.
"Militao’s injury hurt us. It took a toll on our morale. (The injury) hurt us a lot," Alonso said post-match. His side then found themselves two men down after red cards. "The best reaction is almost when you’re a man down. We understand that people are angry, and we hope to show this side of us.”
“The referee’s decisions have unsettled us. He has disrupted our rhythm. I didn’t like his performance at all. That’s what has thrown us off a bit," he added.
Could a move for Konate be on the table? The French international has been far from his best this season, Liverpool coach Arne Slot said. Konate has been "at the scene of the crime" too often this season.
This was true in the Reds' 3-3 draw against Leeds over the weekend. The 26-year-old took down Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto recklessly in the box for a penalty. Then, he was hopefully out of position for the Leeds equalizer at 2-2.
Konate is out of a contract this summer and can sign a pre-contract with another side in January to leave on a free transfer. Alexander-Arnold waited until the summer to confirm his move to Madrid last year.
Konate was linked with a move to Madrid at the start of the season before an article from David Ornstein in The Athletic in late November confirmed that the Spanish giants are no longer interested.
Would an injury crisis change Madrid's mind? Is Alonso desperate enough?
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