Mbappé avoids major issue as Real Madrid plan his return | OneFootball

The Frenchman began his recovery after hyperextending his left knee. The prognosis points to 10-12 days out, but Mourinho will have to decide whether he is fit enough to play against Villarreal.

Kylian Mbappé is already working on his recovery at Valdebebas after the scare he suffered with the French national team. The forward began his rehabilitation process this Monday and will continue working while Real Madrid closely monitor his progress.

The diagnosis ended up being far more positive than initially feared: a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of the left knee, with an estimated recovery period of 10 to 12 days.

However, the tests also made it clear that the situation could have been much more complicated.

Mbappé stopped in time and avoided a more serious injury

The forward felt pain after scoring against Turkey and decided to stop. That reaction proved decisive, as medical tests indicated that if he had continued playing, there would have been a high risk of suffering a more serious injury.

Real Madrid themselves remained in constant contact with the French Federation’s medical staff throughout the evaluation process. At one point, there was even concern over the possibility that Mbappé might need surgery.

In the end, that option was ruled out and the Frenchman was able to avoid the operating room.

Now, at the club, they want to manage his recovery with the utmost caution. The goal is not only to meet the medical timeline, but also to make sure Mbappé returns fully recovered.

Villarreal, Roma and El Clásico on the horizon

On paper, the recovery timeline would allow Mbappé to be available for Real Madrid’s return to competition, scheduled for October 10 against Villarreal.

The problem is that his return would come right up against the limit. After that match, Madrid’s schedule becomes especially demanding, with a trip to Roma on October 14 and then El Clásico against Barcelona on October 25.

Because of this, José Mourinho will have to assess not only whether Mbappé is medically cleared, but also in what condition he can return to competition.

The priority at Valdebebas will be to prevent the Frenchman from coming back too soon and ending up carrying discomfort through a significant part of the season.

Bellingham and Espí emerge as alternatives

If the coaching staff decide to rest Mbappé, Mourinho has different alternatives to reshape the attack.

One of them would be to go with Gonzalo Espí as a direct replacement, although the Portuguese coach views the Under-21 striker as an option especially useful for certain match situations.

Another possibility is Jude Bellingham as a false nine, a role the Englishman already played during his first months under Carlo Ancelotti.

In that scenario, Arda Güler could take Bellingham’s position, while Diomande would keep his place on the right wing. There is also the possibility of changing the tactical setup, although that option seems less likely.

Madrid do not want to repeat last season’s precedent

At Real Madrid, there is particular caution after the knee problems Mbappé dealt with previously.

The club do not want the forward to return while still carrying discomfort and end up prolonging a physical issue by trying to compete too soon. The priority will be for the Frenchman to return when he is fully recovered, especially with a schedule that includes matches of the highest difficulty.

The objective is clear: Mbappé must return as soon as possible, but without taking unnecessary risks that could turn a scare into a long-term injury.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.