Real Madrid are preparing to be without David Alaba through injury until 2025.
Los Blancos have based their transfer recruitment this summer around being able to recover Alaba by an October deadline.
The veteran Austrian travelled as a non-player to Euro 2024 but his rehabilitation has been hit by a reported setback in recent weeks.
The latest reports indicate he is recovering much slower than expected and the club may now look to dip into the transfer market with Spain star Aymeric Laporte an option.
The 32-year-old has been out since early January with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which also damaged other areas of his knee, and the club are concerned over his long term role.
Former Austria teammate Christian Fuchs was asked about how he thinks Alaba can bounce back and he is confident his experience and resilience will be vital.
“The important thing at his age, is not to rush a return, to be sure that if you come back, it’s because you’re at your best”, as per reports from Diario AS.
“You have to be patient, as a player you want to be on the pitch all the time, and in every training session, sometimes injuries make you a better player. I think Alaba is going to come back stronger.”
La Liga will enter into a traditional winter break at the end of 2024, before restarting in mid-January, and that window could allow Alaba to return to action.
