At a glance
- Eder Militao is expected to make his Real Madrid return in April.
- After ACL ruptures in 2023 and 2024, the Brazilian has this time been sidelined by a hamstring tear in December last year.
- He’ll boost Alvaro Arbeloa’s defence, at a key point of the season.
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao revealed that he’s “looking forward to being back on the pitch” while on the cusp of a third career comeback.
The Brazilian suffered ACL ruptures in 2023 and 2024, and while his latest knock wasn’t as serious in being a hamstring tear, it has still kept him sidelined since December.
Militao is expected to be back in April following the recent international break, and boost his team’s backline while it heads into vital Champions League and La Liga clashes.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Militao, who joined from Porto in 2019 and has won two European titles at the Bernabeu, said: “It’s an honour to play here. When I’m on the pitch I give my life. I want to come back, I feel good. I’m looking forward to being back on the pitch.”
Real Madrid stars must be serious about their trades
Militao stressed the importance of taking the profession seriously, demanding that “you have to take care of yourself off the field, not just play”.
“Even if you don’t play, you have to be prepared to be 100% for when the coach needs you. I’m always trying to improve. In terms of duels, recovery, aerial balls, set pieces… When I’m playing I try to focus on the good, but sometimes it doesn’t work.
“I continue working so that I don’t make the same mistake. I don’t like to lose, I don’t like to be sad. Football is not always joy. I always give my best,” the Sao Paulo FC academy product added.
Real Madrid have tough matches ahead
As things stand, Militao looks certain to get the green light for Mallorca on Saturday. In Son Moix, Militao expects a tough match because “Mallorca have a good team, they press, and we have to be attentive”.
“Football is details and we have to always be connected and always at 200%,” he further said.
With all due respect, Bayern Munich in the Champions League pose a far bigger threat. Madrid must come out on top of a two-legged quarterfinal against the Germans over the next fortnight, to face either Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool in the last four.
“Champions League nights are a spectacle at the Bernabeu. The fans help us. In games like Bayern we know their quality, but in these competitions it is special for us. It’s a very nice game to play. If Madrid are there, there is a show,” Militao warned.
Militao is a world-class reinforcement for Arbeloa
Effectively a new signing for his head coach, elite Militao comes back at the perfect time to give Madrid more options on the back line.
Thanks to a string of injuries, it’s currently Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen that form the central partnership.
As he gradually regains peak fitness, Militao should replace one of the pair. Yet he also provides options at right back where he played earlier in this career – should Trent Alexander-Arnold or Dani Carvajal become unavailable for some reason.
