Real Madrid veteran defender back in group training after more than a year | OneFootball

After spending more than a year out on the sidelines due to an ACL injury, Real Madrid defender David Alaba has finally returned to group training today, confirms journalist Jorge C Picon.

The Austrian international suffered the gruesome knee injury last year and had to undergo two separate surgeries and a slow recovery process that has lasted over 12 months.

The 32-year-old defender has been working hard on his rehabilitation in the past few weeks as he began training on the pitch and with the ball.

Now, the centre-back has been given the all-clear to resume training with the rest of the squad as he participated in today’s first session with his teammates.

Back in training. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)

Real Madrid are set to take on Valencia this week but Alaba is not expected to be ready for that encounter as of yet.

In fact, the former Bayern Munich ace is expected to miss the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against RCD Mallorca as well as the possible final, should Real Madrid qualify.

As things stand, if everything goes according to plans, Alaba is expected to make his on-field return for Los Blancos in mid-January in the La Liga clash against Las Palmas.

Given that Eder Militao is also out with an ACL injury, Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid will welcome Alaba’s return with great joy, although the defender is likely to need some more time to recover his best form.