Real Madrid has confirmed that Ferland Mendy has sustained a torn thigh muscle. The injury was first picked up last month but has only now been officially diagnosed. No specific recovery timeline was provided by the club, but reports from AS indicate that the French full-back will not return before mid-July. This timeframe rules him out of this summer’s Club World Cup and may see him miss up to three months of action.
With Mendy unavailable, Fran Garcia is expected to take over responsibilities on the left side of defense. Eduardo Camavinga, who has occasionally covered that role, is also dealing with an injury of his own and remains unavailable.
Defensive crisis deepens for Ancelotti
It was a difficult day for Madrid in terms of fitness updates. Center-back Antonio Rudiger underwent surgery and will miss the remainder of the domestic season. He is projected to be out for around two months.
The team’s injury concerns extend further. Eder Militao remains sidelined, and Dani Carvajal is still recovering. The right-back is targeting a potential return in time for the Club World Cup. Shortly after Mendy’s diagnosis, the club also confirmed that David Alaba had picked up a new injury, reducing the number of available defenders to four.
Carlo Ancelotti is now working with limited options. Raul Asencio and Jesus Vallejo are the primary choices in central defense, while Lucas Vazquez is currently the only fit option at right-back. Vazquez was sent off in the Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona, but any ban he receives is expected to apply only to next season’s edition of the tournament. His future at the club is uncertain, with his contract set to expire this summer and Trent Alexander-Arnold reportedly lined up as a possible replacement.
