Ferland Mendy (foto: Getty Images)
Ferland Mendy has suffered another muscle injury and will miss three weeks. The Real Madrid full-back has now spent more than 500 days sidelined since joining the club.
Ferland Mendy has once again triggered concern at Real Madrid, with the club confirming that the French defender has sustained a new muscle injury to his right thigh, ruling him out for around three weeks. It means he will miss key fixtures against Athletic, Alavés, Manchester City and Sevilla — a familiar scenario for Madrid’s medical department.
Mendy has struggled with recurring physical problems for several seasons. His career at the Bernabéu has been shaped by repeated muscle strains, knocks and minor setbacks that constantly break his rhythm. This year has been particularly difficult: after a long lay-off from April to July, he suffered another setback in early autumn, missing almost the entire start of the campaign. His only appearance so far came in the 4–3 win away to Olympiacos in the Champions League.
The numbers are striking:
since joining Real Madrid in 2019, Mendy has missed more than 500 days through injury and nearly half of all official matches the club have played in that period.
The 2022/23 season was especially problematic, as calf and thigh injuries kept him out for almost 100 days and more than 20 matches. The previous campaign was even worse, with five separate injuries sidelining him for over six months combined. Real were forced to adjust their defensive structure almost weekly.
This summer the club signed Álvaro Carreras, who is increasingly viewed as the long-term solution at left-back. Although Mendy remains contracted until 2028, Real must now seriously consider how to manage his future.
Mendy’s quality is undeniable — physically dominant, defensively reliable and tactically intelligent — but the ongoing injury cycle makes him one of the biggest medical risks in European football.