Real Madrid News
Zidane addresses impact of Real Madrid star’s absence after France vs Italy: ‘We cannot say’
Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has taken over the France national team from Didier Deschamps and looks set to lead Les Bleus into their new era.
His team drew 1-1 with Italy last night, but Zidane refused to use Kylian Mbappe’s absence as an explanation for France’s 1-1 Nations League draw against Italy.
The Real Madrid forward missed Friday’s match at the Stade de France after suffering a left-knee hyperextension against Turkey last week.
Zidane refuses to make excuses
Speaking after the Italy draw, Zidane was asked whether Mbappe’s absence had affected his team.
As quoted by AS, he refused to get drawn into that narrative.
“Did Kylian Mbappe’s absence affect the team? We cannot say. He is not here; he is injured,” Zidane said.
It was a clear-cut response from the former Real Madrid coach, who understandably preferred to focus on the players available to him.
France certainly created opportunities without Mbappe. Michael Olise put them ahead against Italy, but Alessandro Bastoni equalised as Zidane’s side were held to a draw.
The France coach felt his team deserved more from the match and pointed towards their failure to capitalise on opportunities.
Madrid waiting for their superstar
For Real Madrid, however, the important issue is not how France cope without Mbappe. It is when he will be available again.
It was a freak injury for the Los Blancos star, who injured his knee while scoring the goal that gave France all three points.
It was initially feared that Mbappe had suffered a significant injury, but subsequent tests showed that he had managed to escape one.
Despite this, the Frenchman is still not back in training and was spotted in Paris, with no clarity on a potential return date.
Mbappe has become the focal point of Madrid’s attack, and with Villarreal awaiting immediately after the international break, there is little reason for either club or country to rush his recovery.
Even if he is not available for the game against the Yellow Submarine, it should not be long before Mbappe returns to action for Mourinho.
France and Zidane are discovering how to function without their captain. Madrid would rather not have to do the same without their talisman for long.
It remains to be seen how Mbappe’s recovery pans out and whether he is ready to go for Los Blancos after the international break.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham makes England history with phenomenal four-goal contribution vs Croatia
Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham has not put a foot wrong since the World Cup in North America in the summer.
He has been scoring and creating chances for fun for both England and Real Madrid, and that trend has carried into the international break.
Bellingham has produced another reminder of his extraordinary attacking influence, with the Madrid midfielder making England history after recording four goal involvements in a single match, which came against Croatia (1G, 3A).
According to Opta, Bellingham became the first England midfielder to achieve the feat since David Platt recorded four goal involvements against San Marino in February 1993.
Bellingham ends 33-year wait
That means more than three decades have passed since an England midfielder last managed what Bellingham has just produced.
That statistic is another illustration of why Bellingham cannot simply be judged as a conventional central midfielder.
4 – Jude Bellingham is the first midfielder to record four goal involvements in a match for England since David Platt scored four against San Marino in February 1993. Phenomenal. https://t.co/2LNCXbEQXd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 2026
His ability to arrive around the penalty area, create chances and directly influence goals gives him an attacking dimension that very few midfielders possess.
Four goal involvements in one international match is exceptional regardless of the opposition or circumstances.
Doing something no other England midfielder had managed since 1993 puts the performance on a much higher pedestal.
Mourinho has an extraordinary weapon
Mourinho already knows how valuable Bellingham can be when given the freedom to operate close to Madrid’s attack.
His ideal position will always be a dilemma. He has the physical qualities to contribute deeper, the technical ability to help progression and the intelligence to operate between the lines.
However, performances like this are precisely why Madrid should be careful about moving him too far away from goal.
Bellingham’s greatest quality might be that he does not need to dominate possession to dominate a football match. He knows the exact moment to be decisive.
Bellingham returns to Madrid in spectacular form
International breaks can often make Madrid nervous, particularly when key players are involved, but Bellingham will return having enjoyed an extraordinary time with England.
The numbers speak for themselves. Madrid possess plenty of attacking talent, but Bellingham is the glue that holds everything together.
Mourinho’s task is to build a structure that maximises that, and judging by Bellingham’s start to the season, he has done it to a large extent.
It remains to be seen whether the England midfielder can sustain his form in the coming weeks and months for Real Madrid.
