Kylian Mbappé’s Real Madrid injury progress ‘all good news’ – Álvaro Arbeloa

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has insisted that Kylian Mbappé’s progress in recovering from injury is “all good news” despite uncertainty about when the star forward will be back with the team.

Mbappé is dealing with a sprain in his left knee — confirmed by the club earlier this week — which has troubled him since December, with no date set for his return.

Madrid travel to Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Friday, before next week’s Champions League round-of-16 first leg with Manchester City, a league game with Elche, and the return leg at City on March 17th.

“Of course, I speak to [Mbappé] every day, Arbeloa told a news conference on Friday. “It’s under control, every day he’s better. I’ve said it’s a process where we ‘ll go day by day according to his feelings. Right now, it’s all good news.”

Mbappé missed last week’s Champions League playoff second leg with Benfica, as well as Monday’s 1-0 loss at the Bernabéu to Getafe, which left Madrid four points behind Barcelona in the title race.

Madrid are also without the injured Jude Bellingham, who is expected back in April as he recovers from a hamstring problem.

Mbappé and Bellingham have returned to France and England respectively in recent days, to seek advice on the management of their problems, with Madrid saying on Monday that French doctors had agreed with “the suitability of the conservative treatment” the club had opted for with Mbappé.

“Everything in terms of injuries — Jude in London, Mbappé in Paris — is organised by Real Madrid medical services and the physical department,” Arbeloa said. “Mbappé went to Paris with Real Madrid staff … Absolutely everything is supervised by Real Madrid.”

Madrid have lost back-to-back games in LaLiga, beaten by Osasuna and Getafe, as they look to keep pace with Barça in the title race.

“At a team like Madrid, a defeat is always hard to manage,” Arbeloa said. “It’s four points. While we can fight mathematically, we’ll do it. And even then we’ll keep fighting.”

– Rodrygo (torn ACL) out for season, to miss World Cup
– Madrid confirm Mbappé knee sprain, opt for conservative approach
– Mbappé a doubt for Man City UCL clash, admits Arbeloa

Two high-profile signings last summer, Dean Huijsen, 20, and Franco Mastantuono, 18, have faced criticism from fans and the Madrid media for their contributions in recent weeks, with some whistles for Huijsen from the crowd at the Bernabéu.

“Take Mastantuono: the under-19s is full of players of his age,” Arbeloa said. “At Huijsen’s age, he could be playing for [reserve team] Castilla. Remember what happened with Vinícius, how people talked about him, and now he has two Champions Leagues, he’s one of the best in the world. We have to have patience.”