Ndiaye returns to Real Madrid due to the injury crisis

Eli Ndiaye returns to Real Madrid earlier than expected. The white club has executed the buyback option included in his loan to Asisa Joventut, and the forward-center will return to the Madrid team to strengthen an interior rotation severely affected by injuries. The decision was hastened in recent days: after the victory against Burgos last Sunday, coach Pedro Martínez publicly acknowledged that he would like to explore "if there is a possibility" of bringing him back, although he clarified that the determination did not depend on his judgment.

A hospital that forces action

The health urgency explains the move. Mikael Jantunen suffers a complete tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot, an injury that will keep him off the court indefinitely. Gaby Deck, for his part, is out for three to four months following a shoulder injury that requires conservative treatment. Usman Garuba has not played a game since the Final Four in May, prolonging his absence. In the exterior positions, the situation is also bleak: Theo Maledon is dealing with a knee sprain and Nick Smith Jr. is also in the infirmary.

With the double competition underway—Liga Endesa and EuroLeague—Pedro Martínez urgently needed an additional player in the interior rotation. Ndiaye, who had the preseason with the team months ago, presents himself as the most immediate and operational solution. His incorporation not only adds experience and quality minutes but also allows him to enter Liga Endesa rosters as a player in formation without consuming slots, an administrative detail that facilitates load distribution in an exhausted roster.

From the youth academy to a truncated NBA dream

Ndiaye's trajectory has experienced multiple turns in a short time. He arrived at the Madrid youth academy at just 13 years old, trained at the Valdebebas facilities, and made his EuroLeague debut in 2021. With the first team, he accumulated significant titles: one EuroLeague, three national leagues, and one Copa del Rey. His evolution was gradual but constant, progressively gaining minutes until becoming a starter in 19 European games during the 2024-25 season.

In the summer of 2025, Ndiaye went to the United States with a dual contract with the Atlanta Hawks. However, the American experience took a turn for the worse before it began. A shoulder labrum tear forced him to undergo surgery before debuting in the NBA. His time in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks was brief and without prominence, and he was waived on the last day of 2025. This past summer, Valencia Basket presented him with an offer, but Real Madrid matched the offer through its right of first refusal, signing him to a two-year contract. With the paint congested with players, the club decided to loan him to Joventut so he could accumulate minutes of competition.

A promising start in Badalona

At Joventut, he found the ideal environment to develop. He won the Supercopa Endesa at the Olímpic in Badalona and established himself in the Penya rotation. His numbers reflect consistency: 73.7% in two-point shots, a percentage that shows his effectiveness in the paint. His best performance came against Barça, when he scored 17 points with a valuation of 20, demonstrating his ability to compete in significant matches. He averaged 8 points in the Liga Endesa, contributing evenly to the offensive plans of the Catalan team.

The impact on Joventut and the white return

His departure leaves Asisa Joventut in a delicate situation. The Badalona team has a record of 2-4 after being defeated by Surne Bilbao, and the loss of Ndiaye means losing one of their interior players at a time of competitive instability. For Real Madrid, however, the buyback represents an immediate relief. Ndiaye knows the club's structure, has shared a locker room with his teammates, and possesses experience in top-level European competitions.

The operation closes a cycle that began with uncertainty. Ndiaye left for the NBA with excitement, faced an injury that cut short his plans, returned to Spain through a buyback, and now comes back to the place where he was trained. Real Madrid regains an asset that, although young, brings competitive experience and knowledge of the team's tactical systems. In a season where injuries threaten stability, Ndiaye's buyback represents a safety valve for Pedro Martínez, who now has greater flexibility in the interior rotation to manage a season of maximum demands.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ndiaye regresa al Real Madrid por la crisis de lesiones