Real Madrid have started the June transfer market with a bang, signing Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate from Premier League powerhouses Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively, on free transfers while snagging potential starting fullbacks Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries as well, all at the behest of legendary manager Jose Mourinho.
Even with three new, starting caliber defensive players joining a squad that has been lacking in defense over the past several years, Real Madrid are not done yet. They want one more center back for Mou, preferably a left footer. Alessandro Bastoni, Ruben Dias, and Nico Schlotterbeck are seen as the top three targets at the position for the club, but, unfortunately, that big three may only be a top two now.
German national team star Nico Schlotterbeck went down early in the 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast with an apparent injury. At first, he was sitting in his own penalty box after taking a kick but was able to get up and keep playing. However, it became clear that Schlotterbeck had suffered an injury, and he had to be taken off for Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger at the half.
World Cup may have claimed a Real Madrid target
As it turns out, Schlotterbeck did indeed suffer an injury. The former Freiburg man's 2026 World Cup could be over after just two games, as German national team manager Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that the player suffered a ligament injury.
Nagelsmann said of Nico Schlotterbeck's ailment, via Fabrizio Romano, “Nico is suspected to have sustained a ligament injury. It's not looking good."
That is devastating news for Schlotterbeck, Germany, Borussia Dortmund, and even Real Madrid. Schlotty's World Cup may very well be over with this injury, depending on the extent of it, and if the injury is bad enough, it could even mean that the Dortmund central defender is off the board as a Real Madrid transfer target.
Jose Mourinho and others at the club are big fans of Schlotterbeck, and with a 50-60 milion euro release clause and Madrid's close relationship with Dortmund, Schlotty's transfer was widely viewed as the easiest one to complete to add some much needed flair, technical quality, physical strength, and dynamism to the back line.
Schlotterbeck remains in play for Real Madrid until ruled out, but, right now, Madridistas have to start thinking about the club making a bigger push for Alessandro Bastoni or Ruben Dias. But given how many fans are begging for Bastoni in the back line, maybe it's not the worst blow in the world for Real if they can land the Inter Milan star.
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