Real Madrid left with three senior centre-backs ahead of La Liga opener

Real Madrid are heading toward the start of the new La Liga season with limited depth at centre-back, leaving José Mourinho with only three senior options currently available.

Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen and Ibrahima Konaté are the three established central defenders in contention, while Raúl Asencio remains sidelined and Éder Militão continues his recovery.

Real Madrid confirmed in late July that Asencio had suffered a muscle injury in the rectus femoris of his right leg. The club did not provide a specific return date, but his absence has reduced Mourinho’s options during the final stage of pre-season.

AS reports that Asencio could remain out for around six weeks, while Militão is also yet to return to full availability. That leaves Madrid with little margin for further injuries or fitness problems as the opening league fixture approaches.

The situation places greater responsibility on Rüdiger, Huijsen and Konaté.

Rüdiger has returned after dealing with knee problems, while Huijsen is available and expected to play an important role at the heart of the defence. Konaté has also joined the group following his extended post-World Cup break, although his preparation time has been shorter than that of several teammates.

Madrid are due to begin their La Liga campaign against Espanyol on August 22, giving Mourinho a limited period to establish a settled defensive structure before competitive football resumes.

The shortage could also create opportunities for younger defenders.

Joan Martínez and Mario Rivas have both been involved around the first-team environment during pre-season and could provide additional cover if Madrid’s senior options remain limited. Their presence gives Mourinho greater flexibility, but relying heavily on academy players at the beginning of the season would still represent a significant shift in squad planning.

The issue is not necessarily a defensive crisis. Madrid still have experienced and high-level options available, but the lack of depth increases the importance of managing minutes and avoiding further setbacks during the opening weeks.

It also gives the coaching staff a decision to make over how aggressively to use younger players if the injury situation does not improve.

For now, Rüdiger, Huijsen and Konaté are expected to carry most of the senior responsibility at centre-back, with Asencio and Militão working toward their returns.

How quickly Madrid recover those additional options could have a significant effect on Mourinho’s ability to rotate and manage the defensive line during the early stages of the season.