"He has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the thigh of his right leg," Real Madrid said in a statement on Thursday.

According to Spanish reports, the 23-year-old centre-back is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.

Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid side are scheduled to kick off their league campaign away at Espanyol on August 22, followed by home fixtures against Real Sociedad on August 26 and Malaga on August 30.