Real Madrid superstar ‘practically ruled out’ for entire Man City clash; likely to return in April
· Yahoo Sports
Real Madrid could be forced to face a major challenge in the upcoming UEFA Champions League round of 16 after a worrying update regarding Kylian Mbappe’s fitness.
According to a recent report from SPORT, the French forward is now very unlikely to take part in the two-legged European tie against Manchester City.
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The situation surrounding Mbappe’s knee injury has become more serious than initially expected, forcing both the player and medical staff to take a more cautious approach.
The forward had been dealing with discomfort for some time, but the issue reached a point where continuing to play carried a significant risk.
Mbappe himself realised that pushing through the pain could potentially worsen the injury and create a much bigger problem in the long term.
With the FIFA World Cup approaching, protecting his physical condition has now become a priority.
This is why the French star does not want to take unnecessary risks that could jeopardise his availability for the national team.
So what now?
According to the report, Mbappe is not interested in rushing his recovery through short-term solutions if that means returning to action too soon.
Instead, he has chosen to step away from competitive matches and focus on a proper recovery process. This decision is also supported by the French Football Federation.
As a result, medical staff currently consider the Champions League tie against Manchester City almost impossible for him to play.
Mbappe will be unavailable for a month. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
That said, Mbappe has shown in the past that he is willing to push himself physically in important moments.
Because of that mentality, there is still a small possibility that the player might attempt to return earlier if circumstances demand it.
Out for a month
For now, however, the expected recovery timeline is around one month.
The plan is for Mbappe to focus on gym work and physical therapy while allowing the knee to heal properly before returning to the pitch.
If the schedule remains unchanged, the forward will likely miss several important matches.
These include La Liga fixtures against Celta Vigo, Elche and Atletico Madrid, as well as the entire Champions League tie against Manchester City.
Once the international break arrives, doctors will reassess the injury and determine the next step in the recovery process.
The goal for both Real Madrid and the French national team is to avoid aggravating the injury and ensure Mbappe returns in April fully fit.
The biggest concern remains preventing the situation from worsening. If the knee problem becomes more severe, surgery could become the only remaining option, something everyone involved is desperate to avoid.