Real Madrid have confirmed that midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is facing a spell on the sidelines with a torn knee ligament sustained on international duty.
The 21-year-old - who has been a mainstay in Carlo Ancelotti's team this season - was called up to Didier Deschamps's France squad for November's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece in Group B.
However, during a training session with Les Bleus, Camavinga is said to have come off worse in a collision with Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele, forcing him to hobble to the sidelines.
Camavinga allegedly told medical staff that his issue was not serious, but he has withdrawn from international duty with what the French Football Federation described as a sprained knee.
Having been sent back to Real Madrid for further assessment, the former Rennes man is now confirmed to have suffered a complete rupture of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, but Los Blancos did not put a timeframe on his recovery.
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"Following tests carried out today on our player Eduardo Camavinga by the Real Madrid medical services, it has been diagnosed that he has torn the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. Further developments are awaited," Real Madrid said in a medical update.
A report from Relevo states that Camavinga will likely spend around eight to 10 weeks on the sidelines, which would rule the midfielder out for the remainder of the calendar year, forcing him to sit out a host of important games.
Ancelotti's side still have two more Champions League group-stage matches with Napoli and Union Berlin on their agenda for the next few weeks, although Real have already qualified for the knockout stages.
However, Camavinga will miss La Liga clashes with Real Betis and Villarreal before the end of the year, while January 10's Supercopa de Espana semi-final with Atletico Madrid is also likely to come too soon.
Should Real Madrid get the better of their local rivals in Riyadh, they will meet either Barcelona or Osasuna in the Supercopa final on January 14, a clash which Camavinga should also remain sidelined for.
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A full 10-week layoff could also put Camavinga at risk of missing a league derby with Atletico on February 4, one week before Ancelotti's side host surprise leaders Girona at the Bernabeu.
The 21-year-old's injury represents a second midfield blow in a matter of weeks for Real Madrid, who have also lost his compatriot Aurelien Tchouameni to a foot fracture sustained in last month's 2-1 win over Barcelona in El Clasico.
Ancelotti has therefore been left with Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde as his remaining midfield options, although none of them are normally deployed in a holding role.
Furthermore, Bellingham pulled out of the England squad earlier this month with a shoulder problem, while Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois are also continuing their own recoveries from severe knee injuries.
Real's first game back after the international break sees Los Blancos travel to Cadiz on November 26.
Ben Knapton
