Real Madrid defender out for two weeks with muscle strain after exclusion for Fiorentina friendly | OneFootball

Real Madrid have announced the squad list of players that will fly to Austria for the pre-season friendly against Fiorentina tomorrow.

Two of the new signings, who have already begun training – Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Espi – have been included in the squad.

A number of youth team prospects such as Dani Yanez, Jacobo Ortega, Joan Martinez, and Jesus Fortea, among others, are also on the list.

Among the notable absentees who have been doing pre-season training under Jose Mourinho happen to be Franco Mastantuono and Dean Huijsen.

While Mastantuono’s absence is related to his imminent loan departure, the situation with Huijsen is different.

Huijsen injured

Out injured. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Indeed, according to MARCA, Huijsen has been left behind in Madrid by Mourinho as he is dealing with an injury.

The Spanish international has picked up a muscle strain which will sideline him for two weeks, resulting in his absence from the squad for the Fiorentina friendly.

Given the expected absence, Huijsen appears set to miss the upcoming matches against Ferencvaros and Deportivo La Coruna as well.

The centre-back will hope to be ready in time for Real Madrid’s trip to Germany to face Schalke, which will be their final pre-season friendly before the start of their La Liga campaign.

Blow for Huijsen

After a mixed debut campaign, during which he experienced some highs and some lows, Huijsen came into pre-season intent on proving himself and establishing himself in new manager Mourinho’s plan.

Sidelined for two weeks. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

And, while he did get minutes against Alcorcon and Leganes, the injury will come as a bitter blow, considering that the competition for places at centre-back is heating up.

Antonio Rudiger has returned to pre-season training and although he is not travelling to Austria, so as to build his fitness, he will be a frontrunner for a starting spot.

New signing Ibrahima Konate, who will arrive in a couple of weeks after his World Cup break, will also push for a starting berth. Meanwhile, Eder Militao’s recovery from injury is also progressing well.

As such, the injury to Huijsen comes at an inopportune moment, denying him the chance to nail down his place in Mourinho’s team.

The Spaniard becomes the third Real Madrid player to be injured in pre-season, following Thiago Pitarch and Raul Asencio.