Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra is likely to miss the Primera Division opener through injury.
Mourinho without a number of key players ahead of season opener
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been hit by the news that midfielder Mahamadou Diarra is likely to miss the Primera Division opener after picking up a thigh injury.
The news is a blow to Mourinho, who has already lost defender Ezequiel Garay for up to four months with a dislocated kneecap.
The Bernabeu boss has two weeks to prepare his depleted squad for Madrid's opening game of the season away to Mallorca in two weeks' time.
Diarra, 29, has been struggling with his fitness after sustaining a serious knee injury in 2008, when he was sidelined for nearly a whole year and now the former Lyon stalwart faces a race against time to be fit for the trip to the Son Moix.
Meanwhile, Argentine Garay, 23, may need to undergo a further scan to see if there may be any additional damage to the joint.
Former Chelsea manager Mourinho has since gone back into the transfer market to purchase experienced Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho from his old club.
Mourinho has also reportedly lost Brazilian playmaker Kaka for up to four months with an ongoing knee problem and Pepe for three weeks after pulling a leg muscle.
Reports in the Spanish media have also suggested that Los Blancos will be without full-back Marcelo with a minor injury he picked up in the pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich but should be back for the weekend opener on 29th August.
