Mbappe’s Fitness Update: Uncertainty Ahead of Key Matches

According to reports from L’Equipe, Kylian Mbappe is likely to be sidelined for the upcoming match against Levante and remains uncertain for the subsequent Champions League encounter with Monaco. The forward intends to return only once he feels completely free from discomfort in his left knee. Though his return is not deemed far off, Real Madrid may have to cope without their leading scorer for the time being.

Mbappe underwent an MRI scan on December 31 and had initially halved the recommended recovery timeframe by participating in the Supercopa final just eleven days later. Unfortunately, Real Madrid lost that match to their arch-rivals, Barcelona, marking a significant setback for former head coach Xabi Alonso.

Newly appointed manager Alvaro Arbeloa has experienced a challenging start, suffering a 3-2 defeat to second division team Albacete in his debut match in charge of the Copa del Rey, with Mbappe absent from the squad.

Despite the setbacks, Mbappe has expressed no regrets about playing in the Supercopa final, given the significance of the match. However, he is cautious about risking his fitness, particularly with an important season approaching, including his aim to secure a second World Cup title with France this summer.

Reports indicate that Mbappe will not be fit to face Levante this weekend, yet Arbeloa confirmed during a press conference that the star player will at least be included in the squad to confront the team currently ranked 19th in La Liga. “He’s better and he’ll be in the squad,” Arbeloa stated, without providing further details.

In his press conference, Arbeloa acknowledged the criticism surrounding the team’s performance, particularly in reference to the match against Albacete. He stated, “What happened in Albacete was a lack of ideas, of play, of fitness… I am responsible for many things. There will only be one person responsible, and that’s the Real Madrid coach.” He emphasized the importance of working closely with fitness coach Antonio Pintus to ensure players return to peak performance.

Arbeloa also addressed the commitment of players, stating, “The players who were available for the Albacete match were called up; those who weren’t selected were at risk of injury.” He highlighted the effort of Vini Jr., recognizing the challenges he faced in the lead-up to the match.

As the situation unfolds, it will be intriguing to see if Arbeloa decides to deploy Mbappe against Levante on Saturday, potentially contradicting the player’s own wishes as suggested by reports from France. Mbappe is said to believe that it was not ideal to expedite his recovery process and intends to monitor his condition before determining his return to the pitch. Barring any setbacks with his knee, it is anticipated that the French international will return to action before the end of the month, with crucial matches against Monaco, Villarreal, and Benfica on the horizon.