“Not looking good”: Real Madrid, Liverpool-linked star could miss rest of 2026 World Cup as manager gives injury update

Germany fearfulness that centre-back Nico Schlotterback could miss the remainder of the 2026 World Cup owed to injury.

After scoring successful Germany's 7-1 thrashing of Curacao successful their opening Group E fixture, Schlotterback started again for Die Mannschaft successful their 2-1 comeback victory implicit Ivory Coast connected Saturday, a effect which has secured their spot successful the knockout rounds.

However, the 26-year-old sustained an ankle occupation pursuing a coming-together with Amad Diallo during the archetypal fractional and required on-field treatment.

Schlotterback was visibly successful symptom arsenic helium managed to spot retired the archetypal half, earlier caput manager Julian Nagelsmann opted to instrumentality the Borussia Dortmund antheral disconnected astatine fractional time, replacing him with Antonio Rudiger.

Germany had Deniz Undav to convey for coming disconnected the seat to people 2 second-half goals, including a 94th-minute match-winner to warrant apical spot successful Group E with a crippled to spare.

However, their triumph came astatine a price, arsenic Nagelsmann delivered a concerning wounded update connected Schlotterbeck aft the match.

Germany wounded news: Schlotterbeck could miss remainder of World Cup arsenic Nagelsmann issues update

“Nico is suspected to person sustained a ligament injury. It’s not looking good,” Nagelsmann told reporters.

Schlotterbeck is acceptable to acquisition an MRI scan connected Sunday to find the severity of his wounded and should we necessitate weeks of attraction and recovery, his World Cup run volition travel to an end.

As quoted by foot.mundo, erstwhile Germany defender Per Mertesacker said: “We had the feeling that things were starting to click with [Jonathan] Tah and Nico. That’s wherefore it’s truthful bitter. And present truthful aboriginal successful the tournament.

“Antonio Rudiger did good considering the situation. Coming successful arsenic a centre-back is ne'er easy. They defended good to spot it out. But it would beryllium a important loss.”

Real Madrid, Liverpool among clubs funny successful signing Schlotterbeck

Schlotterbeck has established himself arsenic cardinal fig for nine and state successful caller seasons and his accordant performances are understood to person caught the attraction of immoderate of Europe’s biggest teams.

The 29-cap defender attempted to region himself from speculation linking him with a transportation to Real Madrid anterior to the World Cup and wanted to absorption solely connected his planetary commitments.

Los Blancos are understood to person identified Schlotterbeck arsenic a potential centre-back target nether caller caput manager Jose Mourinho, who has already signed Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva since his assignment earlier this month.

Liverpool person besides been credited with a beardown involvement in Schlotterbeck and they, on with Real Madrid, are believed to beryllium among a tiny enactment of clubs who can trigger the merchandise clause successful his declaration worthy betwixt €50m (£43.4m) and €60m (£52m) this summer.

Schlotterbeck is nether declaration astatine Dortmund until June 2031, but helium would beryllium allowed to clasp talks with either Liverpool oregon Real Madrid should they determine to activate his merchandise clause oregon travel to a antithetic statement with Dortmund.