Real Madrid questioned after Mbappe knee mistake
According to Guillermo Rai and Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, medical staff examined Mbappe’s healthy right knee during an MRI in December, missing the actual problem in his left knee.
Early signs of the issue
The first signs appeared after Real Madrid’s 2,0 loss to Celta Vigo on December 7, when Mbappe took a knock to his knee during the game. Coaches at the club, speaking to The Athletic, said this was when the problem started, although it was not fully understood at the time.
He missed a Champions League match against Manchester City a few days later but then returned to play three full matches before the end of the year. During that run, he equaled Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year, despite not being fully fit.
At that point, the earlier scan had already been done on the wrong knee, meaning no injury was found. According to The Athletic, Mbappe continued playing even though his left knee, the injured one, was showing signs of swelling.
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Wrong scan delayed the diagnosis
When the error was discovered, a new scan was carried out on the correct knee. This showed a partial tear in a ligament at the back of his knee, finally explaining the discomfort he had been feeling.
Real Madrid released a statement on December 31, describing the injury as a knee sprain and saying he would follow a careful recovery plan. The earlier mistake was not mentioned publicly.
After the Christmas break, Mbappe was seen holding his left knee during training while speaking with medical staff, suggesting the issue had not gone away.
Careful handling of his playing time
Mbappe’s minutes were then managed more closely. He missed the Supercopa semi final but came on briefly in the final against Barcelona, a defeat that led to Xabi Alonso losing his job as head coach.
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With Alvaro Arbeloa now in charge, Mbappe played in eight of the next ten matches and scored nine goals. His training workload was reduced, and the coaching staff monitored his condition carefully.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Arbeloa said before a match in March, according to The Athletic. “It depends on how he’s feeling. We want him back at 100 per cent.”
Even so, Mbappe missed several more games later and travelled to Paris with club medical staff for further checks. Real Madrid kept the same diagnosis and recovery approach.
Fitness concerns continue at Real Madrid
The Athletic reports that Mbappe’s condition has varied, with some days better than others. One source said the knee was stable, which meant he could play as long as he was not in pain.
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The situation comes at a time when Real Madrid have been dealing with a number of injuries, despite changes made by club president Florentino Perez to the fitness and medical teams.
Mbappe has since returned to the pitch in smaller roles, including substitute appearances in both Champions League and La Liga matches. He is now with the France national team for upcoming games in the United States, while questions remain about how the mistake affected both his recovery and the club’s handling of the situation.
Sources: The Athletic
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