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Real Madrid face a nervous wait over Kylian Mbappe’s fitness after the superstar striker limped out of Friday’s 1-1 draw with Real Betis.
If the first tests offered a glimmer of hope to the Bernabéu faithful, the Frenchman remains a major doubt for the decisive matches of the season and this summer’s World Cup.
Positive signs from initial analysis
Mbappe and Real Madrid have received tentatively positive news after the striker was withdrawn on his 100th appearance for the club.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star caused shockwaves at the Bernabéu when he requested a substitution in the final minutes of the Real Betis clash, sparking immediate fears over his availability for the season’s climax.
However, initial medical assessments suggest the damage may not be as severe as initially feared.
Kylian Mbappé went to the clinic on Sunday morning for an ultrasound of his left leg. Although the initial assessment was “good”, a definitive diagnosis will not come until after a second MRI check on Monday, according to DAZN Sergio Quirante.
Concerns over Clasico and World Cup remain
Despite the positive result of the scan, the Frenchman is by no means out of the woods.
Real Madrid are all but out of the title race, 11 points behind Barcelona with just five matches remaining, but the timing of the injury is particularly cruel ahead of the Clásico on May 10.
Losing their talisman for such a prestigious match would be a huge blow for manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
The concern extends well beyond the Spanish capital, with French fans holding their breath ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Mbappé, who has been in sensational form with 41 goals this season, is the lynchpin of Didier Deschamps’ side. Any long-term absence would be catastrophic for the Blues as they prepare to face Senegal in their first group match on June 16.
Arbeloa awaits medical developments
Speaking after the frustrating 1-1 draw against Betis, which saw Madrid concede a 94th-minute equalizer to Hector Bellerin, Arbeloa was unable to provide a definitive timetable for his star man’s return. The coach stressed that the decision to replace Mbappé was a reactive decision based on the player’s physical sensations on the pitch.
“I don’t know [what’s wrong with Mbappé]”, Arbeloa told reporters. “He felt some discomfort. We will see how he develops over the next few days.” The player would have passed the dugout and headed directly towards the locker room.
Madrid’s injury list grows
The potential loss of Mbappé adds to a growing list of headaches for Madrid’s hierarchy. With Rodrygo already ruled out of the World Cup due to a serious knee injury, the Bernabeu side are seeing their attacking options depleted at a critical time.
Even if Monday’s MRI will deliver the final verdict, it is highly likely that Mbappé will be rested for the next match against Espanyol on May 3.
The club’s medical staff will be working around the clock to ensure he can at least play a part in the final weeks of the campaign without jeopardizing his chances of leading France on the world stage this summer.
