Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward to undergo tests today to decide on availability vs Man City
Real Madrid megastar Kylian Mbappe returned to Spain yesterday and began the final phase of his recovery, with the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Manchester City this Wednesday as his immediate target.
His availability will depend largely on how his left knee responds in the coming days. The French striker completed part of his recovery in Paris, where he consulted knee specialist Dr Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet for a second opinion on his knee sprain.
Mbappe was forced to stop playing due to persistent pain caused by an injury originally sustained on December 7. Although he had returned intermittently for some matches, the problem had not fully healed.
As a result, he has missed Real Madrid’s last three matches against Benfica, Getafe, and Celta Vigo.
Tests today for Mbappe
From the beginning, Mbappe’s recovery plan has been focused on March 11, the date of the first Champions League match of the tie against Manchester City in Madrid.
Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Mbappe will report to Valdebebas early on Monday morning, where he will undergo a new medical evaluation to determine the next step in his recovery process.
The 27-year-old attacker has been following a conservative treatment program and spent several days in Paris working with recovery specialists from the club.
Yesterday morning he completed his final rehabilitation session in France before flying back to the Spanish capital.
With the match against Manchester City just three days away, Mbappe has not yet been ruled out. His recovery has progressed positively, and today’s evaluation will determine whether he can begin training on the pitch or continue rehabilitation work in the gym.
Starting at 11:00 a.m., Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa will receive first-hand information about Mbappe’s condition. Until now, he has been relying on updates from the player himself and from club staff who accompanied the forward during his recovery period in Paris.
The shared objective within the club is clear: Mbappe should only return once he is fully fit.
Real Madrid want to avoid a situation in which the Frenchman returns prematurely and continues to play with limitations, something that has already happened in several matches in 2026.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
