Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid
Real Madrid ace Kylian Mbappe escaped with a minor injury in France’s first game of the international break and was relieved from national team duty immediately by the manager Zinedine Zidane.
The current diagnosis is of a posterior capsule hyperextension of the left knee, and his recovery time is estimated to be in weeks.
Yet, it could well have been much worse and it is said that the player may well have required surgery if he had played longer.
Currently, the player continues to be in France and has not returned to Madrid.
He has been spotted with his friends and his partner, and it has unsurprisingly led to a lot of speculation on why he is on vacation when he should be working on his return.
A consensual agreement
Mourinho has backed Mbappe’s time off. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
As confirmed by AS in a recent update, however, Mbappe’s trip to his country and the time he is enjoying off with his partner and friends is not secretive. In fact, the club completely backed his vacation.
Jose Mourinho is aware of the player taking some time off in France, as are the coaching staff and the medical team of the club.
They all understand that Mbappe’s setback only requires rest and that the player returning to the Valdebebas may serve no real purpose.
His recovery plan, in that sense, is said to be ‘co-ordinated’ and ‘consensual’ as they describe it in the club offices.
The idea is that he will take his recovery slow and pace it out, likely even missing the team’s first game after the break.
Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid player
Having Mbappe fit for the Clasico is the priority. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
A clear priority in mind
Real Madrid’s first game after the break is against Villarreal, and Mourinho and Co. prioritise the player being available in the long run over him being fit for the game against the Yellow Submarines.
The goal, quite clearly, is to have Mbappe fit and raring for the game against Barcelona later in October and the management considers his presence on that night to be fundamental.
So far, the Frenchman has been Real Madrid’s top finishing presence in the opposition box and has carried Real Madrid’s attack alongside Jude Bellingham.
The sensible idea, in that sense, would be to keep him fit and ready for the big games against Roma, Barcelona and RB Leipzig.
Raul Asencio, Real Madrid player
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Raul Asencio’s camp is unhappy with how Real Madrid handled the defender’s injury, according to MARCA, with the decision to operate coming only after months of conservative treatment.
Asencio has now undergone surgery to correct a stress fracture in his right tibia. The injury had troubled him since January, and the operation means he faces roughly four months on the sidelines.
The timing is particularly frustrating for the 23-year-old, who had been one of the few fit centre-backs available to Jose Mourinho during the international break but had still not made a competitive appearance this season.
Asencio spent months trying to avoid surgery
The defender’s injury was first diagnosed in January when Real Madrid opted for what was described as a minimally invasive treatment rather than surgery.
That approach failed to resolve the problem.
Asencio has undergone successful surgery. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Asencio subsequently wanted to undergo an operation during the summer, but the club’s medical staff considered that the wrong moment for surgery. The preferred solution was rest followed by rehabilitation.
Unfortunately, that second approach also failed to solve the issue.
After Asencio suffered another setback in August, Real Madrid’s medical team finally approved surgery. The procedure has now been completed successfully, but the defender faces a lengthy recovery.
Real Madrid defender faces four-month absence
The frustration within Asencio’s camp comes from the belief that surgery should have been approved earlier. “It would be perfect now,” those close to the player say.
Asencio’s representatives are not happy with Real Madrid’s treatment of the player. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The prolonged process has now left the defender facing approximately four months out at a point when he was hoping to compete for minutes under Mourinho.
Asencio had not yet made his competitive debut this season, but his availability during the international break had placed him among the manager’s defensive options.
However, his injury has now removed another player from an already stretched position.
For now, Asencio must focus on recovering from an injury that has followed him for much of the year, while Real Madrid will hope the surgery finally resolves the problem and allows the defender to return without further setbacks.