Real Madrid Confidencial Xabi Alonso already knows it: the player is injured and has no return date
Ferland Mendy is still injured and his return doesn't have a set date, nor is he expected to return in the upcoming matchdays
Real Madrid receives another unexpected blow. Ferland Mendy is still injured and his return date hasn't been set.
The club confirmed that the French full-back has suffered a tear in the proximal tendon of the right quadriceps rectus femoris. This is a complicated injury that will force him to stay away from the field for several more weeks.
The injury came at a key moment. Mendy had to leave the Copa del Rey final after a hard collision with Jules Koundé. He left the field showing clear signs of pain in his right thigh and hasn't played since then.
An absence without clear timelines
The club's medical report didn't specify a concrete recovery time. However, the doctors estimated that he could be out for about three months. If that timeline is met, Mendy will miss the following league fixtures, which would add to his absence from the Club World Cup.
For Xabi Alonso, who has just arrived on the bench, the news is a serious setback. The coach wanted to have the entire squad available at the start of the season. However, he will have to look for alternatives at left-back.
The schedule gets tighter
Madrid faces a demanding schedule ahead. After the international break, they will visit Real Sociedad on September 13. A few days later, the Champions League will begin, with the first match scheduled between the 16th and 18th.
Important LaLiga fixtures await: Espanyol at home (September 21), Levante away (September 24), and the classic against Atlético at the Metropolitano on the 28th.
A week later, the second European matchday will arrive, and on October 5, the clash against Villarreal at Bernabéu. All those matches, barring any surprises, will be played without Mendy.
Xabi Alonso trusts his resources
The coach has strengthened that position with the signing of Álvaro Carreras. Fran García is the other alternative for the full-back position.
The truth is that Mendy's absence is a problem. The Frenchman provides defensive solidity and experience on big nights. Without him, Madrid loses balance at the back.
The recovery will be slow. For now, Xabi Alonso knows that he won't be able to count on his full-back in a schedule full of demands.
More posts: