Real Madrid took a big hit right before the new La Liga season started when goalie Thibaut Courtois tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while training on Thursday.
The Belgium player, who is 31 years old, will be out for a long time. He will have surgery in the next few days.
Madrid said in a statement, “After tests were done on our player Thibaut Courtois, it was found that he has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.”
Courtois’s team didn’t say how long he will be out, but news from Spain says he will likely miss most or all of the season.
Cadena Cope radio said that Courtois hurt himself during a morning training practice and left in tears.
Andriy Lunin from Ukraine will take his place on the team. Madrid’s first game of the season is on Saturday against Athletic Bilbao.
Courtois moved from Chelsea to Madrid after the 2018 World Cup. He helped Madrid win two La Liga titles and the Champions League last year.