Real Madrid have been dealt a blow with the news that German midfielder Sami Khedira faces up to two months out having injured his thigh in training.
There is some dispute between the German Football Federation and Los Blancos as to when the injury happened, but the news will hurt both club and country, and is a blow to Khedira, who spent most of last season on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.
The midfielder, who played a key role in the Champions League final last season, has already undergone scans and is expected by be out for between six and eight weeks in total.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti will now turn to Asier Illarramendi to act as his defensive midfielder, having sold Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich last month.
Khedira had been strongly linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu himself following the arrival of Toni Kroos, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Fiorentina all interested in his services. He has just one year left on his current contract and talks are yet to begin over a new one.
Former Stuttgart player Khedira joined the 10-time European Cup winners after the World Cup in 2010 and has won the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey in his time at the club.
