Ferland Mendy takes major step towards Real Madrid return after lengthy injury

Ferland Mendy will train on the pitch with his Real Madrid team-mates for the first time since undergoing surgery, in a significant development after a recovery that proved more complicated than initially expected.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho confirmed the news at his news conference on Friday, saying: “Mendy will train on the pitch with us for the first time.”

The France left-back has been out since 3 May, when he was forced to leave the match against Espanyol after experiencing severe pain in his right thigh just minutes after kick-off.

Medical tests showed that Mendy had damaged the tendon of the rectus femoris muscle. The injury occurred in the same area where he had previously suffered a problem that required surgery.

He underwent an operation a week later to treat the latest injury. Initial estimates suggested he would be sidelined for about five months, but his history of injuries and the complexity of his rehabilitation led to a cautious approach.

Mendy’s return to grass training, almost five months after the operation, is an important milestone but does not mean he is ready to play.

The 30-year-old still has several stages to complete before receiving medical clearance. He must also rebuild the match fitness and rhythm required to compete, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, which described his return as one “no-one expected”.

Mendy will also come back to a different situation from the one he left in the spring. Competition for the left-back position has changed, while his extended record of injury problems adds another challenge to his comeback.

The positive aspect for Mendy is that Real Madrid do not need to rush him back into competitive action this time. His return can therefore be managed gradually as he completes the remaining steps of his rehabilitation.