Real Madrid are facing the prospect of being without the services of Dani Ceballos for the next three months due to the ankle injury which the midfielder suffered against Real Betis at the weekend.
The Spaniard was heavily linked with a move away from Los Blancos during the summer transfer window, but the deadline passed with the midfielder still at Bernabeu.
Ceballos was given a start against his former club Real Betis on Sunday, with Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga both on the sidelines for the European and Spanish champions.
However, the 28-year-old had to be substituted in the 65th minute of what proved to be a 2-0 success for Los Blancos after suffering an ankle problem.
Real Madrid have now confirmed that Ceballos suffered "a grade three sprain with ligament damage", and the midfielder is therefore set for a relatively lengthy period on the sidelines.
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Ceballos suffered serious ankle injury against Real Betis
"Following tests carried out today by the Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Dani Ceballos, he has been diagnosed with a grade three sprain with ligament damage to his right ankle. His progress will be monitored," read a statement on Real Madrid's official website.
Real Madrid have not put a timeframe on Ceballos' recovery, but due to the seriousness of the damage, it is possible that he could be missing for the next three months.
As a result, Ceballos may not be available until the start of December, with a return against Girona on December 7 a possibility depending on how his recovery develops in the coming weeks.
Real Madrid decided against signing a new midfielder over the summer despite Toni Kroos' retirement, with Bellingham dropping back into a deeper role due to the arrival of Kylian Mbappe in the final third of the field.
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When will Bellingham, Camavinga return?
Bellingham and Camavinga will both be back this month, but it remains to be seen whether the pair are available immediately after the international break.
Real Madrid will return to action against Real Sociedad on September 14, and a busy period then sees them face Stuttgart in the Champions League, in addition to Espanyol and Alaves in La Liga all before a trip to Atletico Madrid on September 28.
The midfield duo are expected to be back in time for the Madrid derby, but there is a chance that they could be on the field before that contest, with Camavinga slightly ahead in terms of his recovery.
Real Madrid also suffered another injury scare earlier this week when Aurelien Tchouameni withdrew from the France squad due to a foot issue, but the extent of the damage is unclear at this stage of proceedings.
