Rodrygo, Real Madrid player
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Real Madrid’s injury list remains a concern at the start of the season, but there is growing optimism at Valdebebas over the progress of two important Brazilian players.
Eder Militao is moving closer to his return and has already started running on the training pitches and working with the ball.
Rodrygo, meanwhile, has reached a significant point in his own rehabilitation, with five months now completed since his serious knee injury.
According to AS, the pair have made encouraging progress in recent weeks, as Militao is expected to be the first of the two to return, with the centre-back currently targeting a comeback after the next international break.
Rodrygo’s wait will be considerably longer, but the Real Madrid forward has now reached the halfway stage of a recovery process expected to last at least 10 months.
Rodrygo reaches major recovery milestone
Notably, five months have passed since Rodrygo suffered the serious injury that brought his season to an abrupt halt.
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The Brazilian tore his anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his right knee on March 3 before undergoing surgery. Since then, his focus has been entirely on a demanding rehabilitation programme at Valdebebas.
This week marks the halfway point of a process that Real Madrid expect to last at least 10 months and the club is pleased with how the forward’s recovery has progressed so far.
Rodrygo’s programme remains centred on strengthening his injured knee while managing the impact placed on it.
His daily routine includes hydrotherapy, running on anti-gravity machines, plyometric work and weight training.
It is a long and repetitive process, but the progress has made the difficult days easier to handle.
“Now that the action is back after the holidays, they seem more upbeat,” sources at Valdebebas say.
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Rodrygo’s injury update remains encouraging, although there is still a long road ahead since Real Madrid are looking towards January 2027 as a possible target for his return.
Militao steps up recovery
Militao’s recovery is at a more advanced stage.
The Brazilian centre-back can now see a return to action on the horizon, and he has begun light running sessions on the Valdebebas training grounds. More importantly, he has also started basic work with the ball.
For a player who has spent months away from normal football activity, those steps represent an important part of the final stretch.
Militao has been able to complete light running work and reintroduce ball exercises into his programme as he builds towards full training, suggesting that his return could come shortly after the international break.
Real Madrid midfield mainstay ruled out of 2026/27 La Liga opener vs Espanyol
Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid player
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Real Madrid’s final training session before the start of their 2026/27 La Liga campaign brought confirmation of an important absence.
Aurelien Tchouameni will not feature when Jose Mourinho’s side travel to Barcelona to face Espanyol.
The French midfielder has returned to training with his teammates, but Real Madrid have decided against rushing him back into competitive action.
According to AS, Tchouameni is among several players unavailable for Mourinho’s first La Liga match in charge.
The decision comes despite earlier optimism that the midfielder could recover in time for the season opener.
Instead, Real Madrid are taking a cautious approach as they prepare for a demanding run of three league matches in just eight days.
Tchouameni trains but Mourinho refuses to rush
Tchouameni’s absence is particularly notable because he has trained at the same pace as the rest of the Real Madrid squad this week.
However, Mourinho had already made his position clear during his pre-match press conference.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid player
Aurelien Tchouameni will miss the Espanyol game. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
The Real Madrid manager confirmed that while the Frenchman is no longer dealing with a major problem, his current physical condition does not allow him to be considered for the Espanyol game.
“The only player who is out for this match who wasn’t here last season is Endrick.
“Tchouameni is fine, but he needs to train this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to accelerate his recovery. He arrived in a condition that won’t allow him to be fully fit for this match.”
Tchouameni’s preparation has been different from that of several of his teammates.
After returning from the World Cup, the French midfielder initially followed an individual training programme instead of joining Real Madrid’s full pre-season work immediately.
As a result, he did not play a single minute during the club’s summer preparations.
That lack of match action appears to be the main reason Mourinho is unwilling to throw him straight into the intensity of a competitive La Liga fixture.
The situation is therefore not necessarily a major setback or a fresh injury concern.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid and France player
Tchouameni is not injured, just not match fit. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
Rather, it is a matter of ensuring that Tchouameni reaches the required physical level before returning to Mourinho’s matchday plans.
Real Madrid face Espanyol with several players unavailable
Tchouameni is not the only player missing from the Real Madrid squad, as Mourinho will also be without Eder Militao, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy, who have remained unavailable since last season.
Meanwhile, Thiago Pitarch, Endrick and Raul Asensio are also continuing their respective recoveries and will not be involved against Espanyol.
The number of absences means Mourinho will begin his Real Madrid tenure without several established first-team options.
However, Tchouameni’s situation stands apart because he has already resumed full training and could be edging closer to a return.
Real Madrid are facing a packed opening schedule, with three La Liga matches scheduled within eight days.
Two of those games will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the quick turnaround means Mourinho will need to manage his squad carefully.