So far this season, the Real Madrid starting lineup has remained pretty healthy and injury-free. There have only been a couple of injuries amongst the starters, but they've only been small knocks and haven't kept any player sidelined for an extended period of time.
However, some players, like Antonio Rüdiger and Dani Carvajal, have been hit with major injuries and have extended timelines for return. Rüdiger has been dealing with a leg muscle injury for the last few months, and Carvajal was just hit with a knee injury that will keep the Spaniard sidelined until the new year.
In their absence we've seen players step up and help lead the team to the stellar start of the season. Éder Militão seems like a man reborn since he's got his starting place back in Rüdiger's absence and Fede Valverde has stepped up at right-back while Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been out.
Unfortunately in Real's recent victory, one of Xabi Alonso's favorites went down with an injury and it's one that is expected to keep him sidelined for quite some time. This injury now gives one of outcasts of the squad the chance to re-establish himself as a regular starter under the new manager.
Rodrygo just got given a completely unexpected lifeline under Xabi Alonso
As reported by AS, Franco Mastantuono is suffering from pubalgia, the same injury issue currently plaguing Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, and it is a very complex injury. Every case is different, with some recovering in weeks, others taking months, and some requiring surgery to fix the injury.
The teenager started this past weekend's game against Valencia and was far from his normal level, potentially suggesting something was wrong. He was expected to be only a substitute against Liverpool, but will now be unavailable to Xabi Alonso for a long time.
With Franco now out for an extended period of time, Xabi Alonso will have to rely on someone else to fill the spot of the Argentine. At the moment, the most likely option seems to be for Rodrygo to slot back in to the starting line. The Brazilian hasn't been a regular for Alonso and seems very much amongst the outcasts of the team, but now he could become a key man for Xabi Alonso.
Rodrygo has mostly featured as a late-game substitute this season, having only started a handful of games, but it now seems he is back in line for his starting role. Rodrygo, Vini Jr, and Kylian Mbappé played very well together as a trio last season, and with the two already off to a hot start this season, adding Rodrygo back into the lineup could elevate the team that much more.