By Daniel Edu

Spanish La Liga powerhouse, Real Madrid, has officially announced that their primary goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, has sustained a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Courtois, a prominent figure for Real Madrid since his transfer from the Premier League’s Chelsea to the Spanish La Liga in August 9, 2018, has been an instrumental force. The 31-year-old Belgian goalkeeper has contributed significantly to the club’s achievements, including securing a UEFA Champions League title, two FIFA Club World Cups, two Spanish La Liga championships, a UEFA Super Cup, a Spanish Cup, and two Spanish Super Cups.

Over the course of his tenure, Courtois has participated in 230 matches across various competitions, allowing 219 goals while maintaining a remarkable 91 clean sheets.

Regrettably, due to his recent injury setback, Courtois will not be available for Real Madrid’s opening La Liga encounter against Athletic Club scheduled for 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 12.

A statement released by the club on August 10 conveyed that Courtois will undergo surgery to address the anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee. The statement reads, “Following assessments conducted on our player Thibaut Courtois, he has been diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee. The player is scheduled for surgery in the upcoming days.”

In light of this development, which might sideline Courtois for an extended period, Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano tweeted, “Real Madrid is actively considering options in the goalkeeper market to cover Courtois’s absence.”