Injured Real Madrid star begins training with ball, could return by March end

Madrid—Real Madrid’s defensive revival could gain further momentum within weeks, with centre-back Éder Militão reintroducing ball work at Valdebebas after a muscle injury sidelined him since early December.

Club sources, confirmed by AS, describe the 28-year-old Brazilian international’s progress as “ahead of schedule,” though medical staff stress he will not be rushed back until the risk of relapse is eliminated. If the current trajectory holds, Militão could rejoin competitive training before April and potentially feature in matches by the end of March—roughly a fortnight earlier than the initial mid-April target.

The development offers a timely lift for a back line that has cycled through personnel issues. While Antonio Rüdiger recently returned from a month-long lay-off and immediately stabilised the defence, teenager Dean Huijsen’s performances have fluctuated, David Alaba has fallen out of the first-team picture, and both Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio have managed lingering physical complaints.

Prior to his setback, Militão had logged 16 appearances this campaign, contributing a goal and an assist while anchoring a unit that conceded sparingly. His reappearance would add experience and aerial dominance ahead of the season’s decisive stretch, including looming Liga and European fixtures.

For now, Militão’s sessions remain limited to controlled drills with the ball, with progression to full-contact work contingent on continued scans and fitness tests. The club’s medical department will reassess his timeline weekly, but the early returns have heightened optimism inside the Spanish capital that one of their defensive pillars is edging closer to a comeback.