Carlo Ancelotti frequently praises Antonio Rudiger as “a warrior,” a description he often falls back on for the Real Madrid center-back. Raised on the tough concrete pitches of south Berlin, Rudiger earned the childhood nickname ‘Rambo’ for his likeness to the iconic warrior. However, Ancelotti’s reliable defender has been sidelined with an injury in recent weeks.
Real Madrid is currently dealing with the absence of both center-backs who started the 2022 Champions League final. Eder Militao suffered an ACL tear in the first game of the season, and David Alaba joined him in the treatment room after sustaining a similar season-ending injury in December.
Despite these setbacks, Ancelotti initially asserted that there was no need to bring in another central defender during the January transfer window. However, on Deadline Day, Rudiger encountered an unexpected fitness issue.
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Here are the latest updates on Ancelotti’s injured warrior.
**When will Antonio Rudiger return from injury?**
After a fiercely competitive first half against Getafe in early February, Rudiger did not return for the second half of a 2-0 victory. Ancelotti expressed optimism initially, stating, “I think Rudiger can recover; he has a strong blow, and we will see how he is in the next few days.” However, Rudiger was absent for the subsequent 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.
As revealed by Madrid later on, Rudiger had suffered “a muscle injury in the vastus lateralis of his left thigh.” While there is no official timeline for his recovery, initial reports suggest Rudiger may miss between two to three weeks.
Although he sat out the final training session before Madrid’s match against Rayo Vallecano, Rudiger is expected to be available for the clash against Sevilla on February 25.
Notably, Rudiger’s resilience was demonstrated in the past when he returned to the squad just five days after a serious injury. After receiving 20 stitches for a head injury during a Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk, Rudiger played with a protective mask and contributed to Madrid’s victory over Barcelona.
While Rudiger missed the recent training session, his potential return for the Sevilla match holds significance, especially considering his central role in a previous intense encounter with Sergio Ramos. Their enthralling feud during Madrid’s visit to Sevilla in October adds anticipation to the upcoming rematch, where Ancelotti’s warrior is expected to play a crucial role.