Real Madrid star released from national team squad due to back pain | OneFootball

Only a couple of days into the first international break of the new season, Real Madrid seem to have their first casualty.

Los Blancos had a number of players join up with their respective national teams since the weekend, but one player already is on his way back.

Andriy Lunin withdraws from Ukraine squad

Indeed, as reported by MARCA, Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has been released from the Ukraine squad because of a lower back problem.

As per the report, the 26-year-old shot-stopper suffered the back issue during the warm-up before Real Madrid’s match against Mallorca this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite the issue, Lunin travelled to his national team camp, but Ukraine have excused him from the squad for their upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against France (5 September) and Azerbaijan (9 September).

Lunin has been released from the Ukraine squad. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

As such, the shot-stopper, for whom Real Madrid turned down a late approach from Girona in the summer window, is back in the Spanish capital.

With Lunin back in Madrid, Valdebebas is unusually full during the international break despite numerous call-ups.

Twelve Real Madrid players – Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Antonio Rudiger, Arda Guler, David Alaba, Thibaut Courtois, Brahim Diaz, Fede Valverde, Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo Garcia — have joined their national sides.

Remaining in Madrid are Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., Eder Militao, Endrick (still sidelined through injury), Jude Bellingham (also injured), Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Eduardo Camavinga – all of whom are fairly regulars in their respective national teams.

Now, Lunin is also returning to join those left back at Valdebebas.