Ferland Mendy, the French left-back for Real Madrid, is facing another setback after being diagnosed with a muscle tear in his right quadriceps. Tests conducted at the Valdebebas training center, following his injury in Montilivi against Girona, confirmed the severity of the problem, adding to Carlo Ancelotti’s defensive concerns. 

Another blow to Real Madrid's defense

The defensive situation for Real Madrid becomes even more challenging. Alongside the absences of Dani Carvajal, Éder Militao, and David Alaba—who is set to return in January after a year out due to a knee injury—Mendy’s injury leaves the team with only Fran García available at left-back for December. This significantly limits the team’s options as they face a demanding schedule.

Mendy is the latest player in the squad to suffer a muscle injury this season. Despite this setback, better news came from the medical evaluations of Rodrygo Goes and Jude Bellingham. The Brazilian forward missed the Girona match due to discomfort in his left leg but managed to complete part of Sunday’s training and may be included in the squad for the match against Atalanta in the Champions League. Meanwhile, the English midfielder left the Montilivi game with muscle fatigue but has no injury preventing him from playing on Tuesday.

Mendy’s diagnosis and the matches he will miss

"After tests conducted today on our player Ferland Mendy by the Medical Services of Real Madrid, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his right quadriceps," the club confirmed in a statement. Mendy felt discomfort in the 80th minute of the game against Girona, forcing him to leave the pitch.

The estimated recovery time for Mendy is three weeks, meaning he will miss the remainder of Real Madrid’s matches in 2024. This includes the crucial Champions League match against Atalanta, as well as LaLiga games against Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla, and the Intercontinental Cup final.

This situation presents an additional challenge for Carlo Ancelotti, who must adjust his tactical setup to maintain the team’s competitiveness during this critical stage of the season.