Real Madrid starts the season with a mix of excitement and concern. At the center of the unease is Eduardo Camavinga, who won't be able to take part in the league debut due to a sprain that will temporarily keep him off the field.
However, what initially seems like a temporary absence could turn into a longer-term problem for Xabi Alonso.
The Madrid coach will have to face the start of LaLiga without one of its most versatile players. What's most concerning is that when the Frenchman recovers, he could find his spot taken.
Madrid's midfield faces fierce competition. Starting on the bench is never the best news for a footballer who wants to be a protagonist.
A streak that worries
Beyond the temporary setback, the real problem lies in Camavinga's injury history. In his recent years as a professional, he has suffered a series of ailments that have prevented him from keeping continuity. That worries both the locker room and the board.
His last 12 injuries
Left knee sprain (August 2025)
Muscle discomfort in the thigh (May 2025)
Muscle tear in the biceps femoris (April 2025)
Contusion in the right ankle (January 2025)
Muscle overload (November 2024)
Muscle tear in the left adductor (September 2024)
Injury to the external lateral ligament of the knee (May 2024)
Discomfort in the soleus (February 2024)
Mild ankle sprain (November 2023)
Quadriceps tear (September 2023)
Hamstring contracture (March 2023)
Knee injury due to accidental blow (November 2022)
The dilemma for Xabi Alonso
The new Madrid coach knows that having a player like Camavinga at full fitness is a luxury. He is also aware that he can't build a season plan around a footballer who accumulates so many physical setbacks. Reliability is key, and in this respect the Frenchman has raised doubts.
In the locker room, people say that once he recovers, Camavinga might not be a starter right away. This, combined with his frustration at missing key matches, could end up generating internal tension.
A future yet to be defined
The season is long and Camavinga will have opportunities, but each absence reduces his margin for error. If Real Madrid wants to compete for all the titles, it needs its key pieces to be available as much as possible.
Xabi Alonso will have to decide whether to prioritize the experience and reliability of other players, or to keep betting on a Camavinga who, when he's fit, makes a difference... but whose availability remains a mystery.
Xabi Alonso, concerned, has asked the medical staff for a plan of attack to keep Camavinga from injuries. The coach doesn't understand so much fragility and wants to put an end to it.