Kylian Mbappé can breathe a sigh of relief. After injuring his left knee with France against Turkey, the Real Madrid striker has avoided a much more serious injury and, above all, possible surgery. According to AS, the Frenchman would have taken a major risk had he continued playing through the pain. His absence is now expected to be limited to around ten days.
Mbappé’s injury could have had far more serious consequences. The France captain felt pain in his left knee after scoring against Turkey last Friday and decided to stop rather than continue. According to the Spanish newspaper AS, subsequent examinations indicated that playing on could have significantly worsened the injury and potentially affected a large part of his season.
Real Madrid Feared Mbappé Could Need Surgery
There was genuine concern at Real Madrid in the hours following the injury. The Spanish club, which remained in contact with France’s medical staff, reportedly even considered the possibility that Mbappé might require surgery. The examinations ultimately brought much more reassuring news: the former PSG striker is believed to have suffered hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee, with an estimated recovery time of ten to twelve days. He has already begun rehabilitation work at Valdebebas, although Madrid are determined not to take any risks with their star player.
On paper, Mbappé could be available to face Villarreal on October 10, but José Mourinho is reportedly considering resting him, especially with a trip to Roma on October 14 and the Clasico against Barcelona at Camp Nou on October 25. The message in Madrid is clear: Mbappé will only return when he is fully fit. If he misses the Villarreal game, young striker Espí could replace him, while Jude Bellingham is another option as a false nine, with Arda Güler playing behind him and Diomande potentially featuring on the right.
After initially fearing a much more serious scenario, Real Madrid can therefore breathe easier. Mbappé has avoided surgery and a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but the club will now be extremely cautious with his knee and will not rush his return to action.




