MADRID: Real Madrid will be without midfielder Dani Ceballos for between six weeks to two months after confirming that he suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's 2-0 win at home to Betis.
"Following tests carried out today by the Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Dani Ceballos, he has been diagnosed with a grade 3 sprain with ligament damage to his right ankle. His progress will be monitored," confirmed the club website.
The injury comes at a bad time, with Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga both out of action and unlikely to return until the end of September, after suffering a muscle injury and a twisted knee ligament and it will leave Carlo Ancelotti short of players in central midfield after the international break.
Ceballos suffered the injury in his first start of the new season, after accumulating just six minutes in Real Madrid's first three La Liga matches and the European Supercup against Atalanta.
He was substituted by Brahim Diaz in the 65th minute of the match and trotted off the pitch without any visible signs of injury.
If he recovers in six weeks, Ceballos is likely to miss seven games (five in La Liga and two in the Champions League), but if he needs longer to recover, then obviously he will be out for more matches. ■