Real Madrid's early season injury crisis has worsened with the news that French international pair Aurelien Tchouameni and Ferland Mendy have both had to abandon their country's squad with physical problems.

Ferland Mendy of Real Madrid (front R) vies with Marcel Sabitzer (front L) of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League final match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in London, Britain, June 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Str)

Tchouameni suffered an injury in his left foot in Sunday's 2-0 win at home to Betis, while Mendy has a problem with his shinbone, and although the problem with the left-back is not thought to be serious enough to stop him from playing against Real Sociedad on September 14, Tchouameni's return is more worrying.

The 24-year-old is arguably Real Madrid's only holding midfielder and his injury comes just a day after it was confirmed that Dani Ceballos has suffered a twisted ankle that could leave him out of action for between six and eight weeks.

Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga are also sidelined until the end of September with a muscle injury and a twisted knee ligament, respectively.

The problem for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti are that all the injuries are accumulating in the same area of the pitch, where Real Madrid didn't make any signings in the summer, despite the retirement of Toni Kroos.

Unless Tchouameni can recover in just 11 days, Ancelotti will only have Luka Modric and Fede Valverde as specialist midfielders, with Valverde better suited to an attacking role and 38-year-old Modric more suited to creative, rather than attacking duties.

Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler could also drop into the middle of the park, but once again the duo also far more attacking in style, with neither used to providing defensive cover nor playing the ball out from defense, which has been Madrid's main issue in the opening weeks of the new season.

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