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Real Madrid supporters are all too familiar with the constant threat of injury disruptions.
Hot on the heels of midfielder Federico Valverde being diagnosed with an ankle problem after the Madrid derby, Los Blancos have received another blow with the news that center back Ibrahima Konaté is heading back to the club after sustaining a knee injury while on international duty with France.
Here's everything we currently know about Konaté's injury situation.
What Injury Does Ibrahima Konaté Have?
Reports indicate that Konaté was unable to complete Wednesday's training session with France and, after reporting knee pain, was sent to undergo an MRI scan.
Following the test results, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed that Konaté has sustained a sprain to his right knee, considered serious enough to warrant his withdrawal from the national squad.
Manchester United's Leny Yoro has been called up as his replacement, putting the youngster in contention for his first-ever senior cap with Les Bleus.
When Will Ibrahima Konaté Return From Injury?
No definitive recovery timeline has been provided for Konaté, though the FFF appears optimistic about a swift return, having characterized his knee sprain as "mild."
His involvement with the French national team has come to an end, and Konaté's focus now shifts to getting fit for Real Madrid who, given the extended international break, don't return to action until Oct. 10 — roughly two and a half weeks after he picked up the knock.
Whether Konaté will be available for that fixture — a home clash against Valencia — depends on the precise nature of his sprain, which remains unclear. Minor sprains typically require one to three weeks to heal, while more significant cases can take upwards of a month.
Given that Konaté will need several days of full training before being reintegrated into José Mourinho's starting eleven, the Valencia match may well arrive too early for the Frenchman. Even the Champions League away fixture against Roma four days later could be a tall order, potentially making the home game against Sevilla on Oct. 18 a more realistic return date.
Real Madrid's Options to Replace Ibrahima Konaté
No central defender has logged more minutes under Mourinho this season than Konaté, who has been a cornerstone of the manager's favored defensive partnership alongside Dean Huijsen.
Mourinho faces an additional headache as Huijsen is suspended for the Valencia match after being sent off in the Madrid derby, meaning the manager could be without both of his first-choice center backs simultaneously. Factor in Éder Militão's ongoing injury, and Mourinho finds himself in a genuine defensive crisis.
Antonio Rüdiger is the natural backup and is expected to slot into the starting lineup for the Valencia fixture. The bigger question is who partners him should Konaté remain sidelined.
No other central defender has featured for the first team this season. Raúl Asencio appears to be the next candidate, though following a summer in which Madrid reportedly made repeated attempts to offload him — all of which he resisted — his standing under Mourinho remains uncertain.
Castilla prospect Mario Rivas, 19, has been a regular presence on Mourinho's bench this season but is yet to make his senior debut, a factor that may ultimately work in Asencio's favor when it comes to earning minutes.