This morning, the football world was surprised to learn that the goalkeeper of Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois, will miss the entire season without even starting it, due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, two days before the start of LaLiga, the club announced on Thursday.
The Belgian international was injured in Thursday's training and underwent medical tests that showed "a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee."
"The player will undergo surgery in the coming days," said the brief medical report issued by Real Madrid.
The Real Madrid team did not specify the length of their star goalkeeper's absence, but according to the Spanish press, he could be sidelined for eight to nine months, missing almost the entire season.
Courtois was injured during the morning training session and left crying, according to Cadena Cope radio.
The injury to the Belgian goalkeeper is a heavy blow to Real Madrid, two days before their debut in the league championship on Saturday at San Mamés stadium against Athletic Bilbao.
Joined Real Madrid in 2018, Courtois, a key player for the team, had suffered a meniscus tear in 2015 that kept him sidelined for three months.
The white team will rely on Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, the other goalkeeper registered with the first team, for the first league match and will have to consider whether to sign another goalkeeper.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper of Real Madrid, who according to local newspapers, rejected leaving in this transfer window, played 12 matches last season with the white shirt, conceding 13 goals.