Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery for a knee injury on Tuesday. The Germany international will miss up to eight weeks, following a tear in the outer meniscus of his left knee.
Rudiger’s injury comes just days after his controversial red card during Real Madrid’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. The centre-back was dismissed for throwing an object at the referee during his heated protests on the sidelines. His actions are expected to lead to a suspension of four to 12 matches, further compounding the loss for Madrid.
In a statement, Real Madrid confirmed the surgery, though they did not specify the exact timeline for his recovery. Spanish reports suggest that Rudiger will be unavailable for six to eight weeks, which could keep him out of several key fixtures, including crucial league matches.
However, there is hope he may return in time for Real Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign this summer in the United States, which begins on June 14.
With Madrid trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga, the team will face a challenging run-in, including a high-stakes match against their arch-rivals on May 11 at the Olympic Stadium.
