Real Madrid could accelerate defender move following World Cup injury diagnosis

It’s no secret that Real Madrid are looking to sign a second centre-back to come in alongside Ibrahima Konate. Jose Mourinho has made it clear that he wants another defensive option for his squad, and among the leading candidates to join at this stage is Borussia Dortmund and Germany star Nico Schlotterbeck.

Despite only signing a new contract a few months ago, Schlotterbeck can be signed this summer for only €50m – a price that is very attainable for Real Madrid. The player himself would also welcome a move to the Bernabeu, with it being his primary option over the likes of Liverpool.

The situation with Schlotterbeck would surely have had movement after the World Cup, but any efforts that Real Madrid could now be brought forward. As per Sport, the defender has been ruled out of the ongoing tournament in North America after rupturing the internal ligament of his left ankle.

Injury could also delay Real Madrid move

While this news may lead to Real Madrid making a move sooner, it could also make them decide to put any efforts on the backburner. The injury will keep Schlotterbeck out of action for 6-8 weeks, meaning that he would likely miss the start of the 2026-27 season for whichever club he is at come August.

This is undoubtedly a concern for Real Madrid, especially as Schlotterbeck would miss the entirety of pre-season. However, they would be able to move his absence for the start of the 2026-27 campaign, given they have the likes of Konate, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio.

It’ll be interesting to see whether Schlotterbeck’s injury has an effect on Real Madrid’s pursuit. Right now, the feeling is that it could go either way, although a decision is likely to be made in the next couple of weeks.