Real Madrid are facing a defensive crisis after both first-choice centre backs Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane went off with suspected injuries playing for their countries on Tuesday.
Ramos was substituted in the 43rd minute of Spain‘s 6-0 win over Germany in Seville in the UEFA Nations League.
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A brief statement from the Spanish football federation said that the defender was suffering from “severe discomfort in his right hamstring.”
Varane was replaced at half time of France‘s 4-2 victory over Sweden in Paris, also seemingly with a hamstring issue.
“I had to take Raphael off because he had a little problem,” Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps said.
The extent of Ramos’ injury will be assessed on Wednesday, when the 34-year-old will undergo further tests, but Spain manager Luis Enrique said he empathises when clubs see their star players go down during international duties.
“[Ramos and Sergio Canales] are muscular injuries, we don’t think they’re too serious, although it’s annoying for the clubs when a player gets injured with the national team, I know what it’s like. We hope they aren’t out for too long,” the ex-Barcelona boss said after the match.
Spain’s medical team want to see how the injury evolves overnight before making a definitive diagnosis.
Ramos — who became the most capped European player ever on Saturday, breaking Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon‘s record — was featuring in his 178th international.
The Real Madrid and Spain captain now looks certain to miss his club’s La Liga match with Villarreal on Saturday. Ramos would then face a race to be fit for a crucial Champions League clash away at Internazionale next Wednesday.
As well as Ramos and Varane, Madrid are also currently without third-choice centre back Eder Militao, who tested positive for the coronavirus on Nov. 2.
If the absence of all three is confirmed, that would leave Nacho Fernandez — only just back from injury himself — as the club’s only available senior central defender this weekend.