Real Madrid were dealt a major blow during the international break as two of their key players, Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate, returned from the France national team camp with injuries.

The defender returned without even playing for Les Bleus after picking up a muscle strain in training.

As for Mbappe, he sustained a knee injury during the team’s UEFA Nations League clash against Turkiye, during which he scored the only goal of the game.

Despite the initial concern, tests confirmed that the issues with both Mbappe and Konate were not major and that the pair could be ready to play against Villarreal after the international break.

However, it could have been considerably worse for the superstar forward.

Mbappe avoided surgery

Indeed, AS reports that had he continued playing for France, Mbappe could have risked a serious injury, which would have needed him to undergo surgery.

Mbappe stopped after feeling pain following his goal against Turkiye and that decision proved important.

Medical tests indicate that continuing to play could have put him at significant risk of a serious injury, potentially one capable of derailing his season.

Real Madrid, who remained in direct contact with the French federation’s medical team, even feared that an operation might be required. That has ultimately proved unnecessary, providing some relief, although the club will proceed very cautiously with the forward.

For now, Mbappe has been diagnosed with the hyperextension of the posterior capsule of the left knee, with an expected absence of 10 to 12 days.

Rest vs Villarreal?

Based on the projected recovery time, Mbappe should be available when competitive action resumes on 10 October against Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu. But being theoretically fit isn’t the same as being ready to play without significant risk.

That’s what Jose Mourinho is now considering. If the France captaion does return, it will be a tight turnaround, with two major fixtures immediately afterwards: AS Roma on 14 October and the Clasico at Camp Nou on 25 October.

Managing Mbappe’s return correctly will therefore be important, giving way to the possibility of him being rested against Villarreal.

The coaching staff has several options if they decide to rest Mbappe. The most straightforward would be to keep the current system and replace the Frenchman with Carlos Espi.

Mourinho, however, sees the Spain U21 international more as a traditional centre-forward who could be useful if the match requires a different type of attacking presence.

Endrick, who did well against Australia for Brazil earlier today, would also be an option, while the manager could go with a left-field option and deploy Jude Bellingham as an out-and-out forward.

Ultimately, everything depends on the decision over Mbappe. Real Madrid do not want a repeat of last season, when he continued playing despite knee problems before eventually stopping.

This time, the intention is clear: Mbappe will only return when he is fully fit.