After their long absence: date revealed for the return of two Real Madrid stars

Real Madrid are looking to have their squad back to full strength as quickly as possible.

Real Madrid are pressing on with their preparations for the new season, still without Brazilians Rodrygo Goes and Eder Militao. Both remain sidelined by injury, with their returns still months away.

Arancha Rodriguez, a journalist at Spanish radio station "Cope", revealed on Sunday that Rodrygo has been battling a torn cruciate ligament and meniscus since 18 March. She put his lay-off at between 10 and 12 months, meaning he isn't expected back until the start of 2027.

Militao's timeline looks brighter. He picked up a hamstring injury on 21 April and faces four to five months out, with a return pencilled in for September or October.

Real Madrid confirmed back in March that Rodrygo had come through successful surgery on the torn anterior cruciate ligament and the lateral meniscus in his right leg. He then began his rehabilitation programme.

Militao, meanwhile, damaged his left hamstring during the clash with Alaves in April. Real Madrid later revealed a tear in the proximal tendon of the same muscle.

Surgery followed on 28 April, and the Brazilian defender came through it successfully before starting his recovery.

His injury record makes this latest blow all the more worrying. Militao had only returned to action in April after almost four months out with a previous hamstring problem, and he has suffered two cruciate ligament tears since 2024.