Real Madrid opened its season with a 2-1 victory over Real Betis on August 18 and although the scoring from Karim Benzema and Isco certainly provided the team with some early momentum, news that star midfielder Xabi Alonso will miss an extended period of time will certainly remain a cause of concern at the Santiago Bernabeu. The 31-year-old was nearing a return from a groin operation that forced him out of the recent Confederations Cup and now as the La Liga season continues, Real Madrid will now look elsewhere for production.
Alonso suffered a fractured metatarsal while training with Madrid this week, according to ESPN FC. Though he was scheduled to play in the club's upcoming exhibition against Al-Sadd, Alonso will now be out to miss at least 3 months while the foot injury heals. Real Madrid and head coach Carlo Ancelotti are targeting early December as a possible return time and until then, the club remains focused on competing in a league that features Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Villareal among others.
"Radiological tests performed by Real Madrid's medical services have revealed that Xabi Alonso has suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot on Wednesday," the club said in a statement Wednesday.
While the injury to one of the team's primary midfielders will certainly force Carlo Ancelotti to find capable fill-ins immediately, the player considered to be Alonso's long-term replacement -- Asier Illarramendi -- is unable to enter match play due to the fact that he is reportedly not fully recovered from a preseason muscle injury, according to Goal.com.
Though Illarramendi may not be ready at the moment, Real Madrid will look for increased support from players such as Luka Modric and Sami Khedira. Modric has been a hot topic of discussion during the current transfer period - a window that officially closes on September 2 -- and even though it is not known whether or not the 27-year-old will transfer, he will surely take on a larger role in the absence of Alonso while at the Bernabeu.
Khedira is a 26-year-old from Stuttgart, West Germany and as a player who has recorded 5 goals in 79 appearances since joining Madrid in 2010, the La Liga giants will surely look to veteran play from someone who helped them win the 2011-2012 La Liga title along with the 2011 Copa del Rey and 2012 Supercopa titles.
In addition to missing a significant amount of Real Madrid's schedule, Alonso will most likely be sidelined for Spain's three remaining World Cup qualifiers along with Real's October 26 showdown against Lionel Messi and Barcelona.
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