Arbeloa Denies Mbappe Misdiagnosis Claims, Confirms Militao Return
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has dismissed as "completely false" reports that the club's medical staff initially misdiagnosed a knee injury suffered by star forward Kylian Mbappe in December. Speaking ahead of Saturday's La Liga match against Mallorca, Arbeloa also confirmed the return of defender Eder Militao from a four-month hamstring injury.
The controversy stems from recent Spanish media reports suggesting a scan was performed on the wrong knee when Mbappe first experienced problems late last year, contributing to a recurring issue that sidelined him for several weeks. Mbappe himself denied the claims last week, and Arbeloa has now firmly backed the club's medical team. "What Kylian has said these past few days, it is completely false," Arbeloa stated. "It's time to put his knee problem behind us and focus on his goals. He needs to get back to the level he's shown he's at."
Mbappe's fitness has been a recurring theme this season, with the French captain missing a three-week period recently after traveling to his homeland for a second opinion. His availability remains crucial for Real Madrid's title run-in, with the club holding a narrow lead at the top of La Liga. Arbeloa expressed relief that his international players, including Mbappe, returned from the break without fresh injuries, a stark contrast to rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who suffered significant setbacks.
The manager also addressed the situation of Jude Bellingham, who was called up by England but did not feature under manager Thomas Tuchel. Arbeloa described the midfielder's case as "a bit unusual" but stated there was no issue with the national team's handling of the player, who is now ready to contribute for Madrid. "Jude is smart enough to have had some good training sessions. And he's ready to help tomorrow," Arbeloa added.
In a significant boost for the defensive line, Eder Militao is set to be available for selection after a long layoff. Arbeloa offered high praise for the Brazilian centre-back, claiming, "When he's fit, he'll surely be the best centre-back in the world." His return leaves Ferland Mendy, Thibaut Courtois, and Rodrygo Goes as the only remaining injury concerns, with Dani Ceballos and Raul Asencio also nearing fitness.
When questioned about potential rotation for the trip to Mallorca, Arbeloa was adamant that he would field his strongest possible side despite a congested schedule of three matches in six days. He specifically addressed speculation about Vinicius Junior, noting the winger was tired after international duty with Brazil but that a decision on his involvement would be made later. The focus, according to Arbeloa, is squarely on navigating a run of nine critical matches, starting with a difficult away fixture against a Mallorca side fighting for points at the opposite end of the table.
