Franco-Senegalese defender Ferland Mendy nears injury return

Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy is closing in on a return to action after spending several months on the sidelines with a serious injury.

The French left-back, who has Senegalese root has been out since the latter stages of last season after suffering a significant injury to his right leg during Real Madrid’s meeting with Espanyol. He subsequently underwent surgery in May and began a lengthy rehabilitation programme.

According to reports, Mendy has now entered the final phase of his recovery and has gradually returned to outdoor training.

The 31-year-old has also resumed ball work, marking another positive step in his rehabilitation and bringing him closer to receiving medical clearance to return to competitive football.

However, Mendy is not yet considered fully ready to feature in matches. Although his return to ball work represents significant progress, he still needs to complete further physical conditioning before he can safely return to full competitive intensity.

His potential comeback would be welcomed by Real Madrid, who face a demanding schedule across multiple competitions and need greater depth within the squad.

Mendy, however, could face a battle to immediately reclaim his place in the starting XI. With Álvaro Carreras and other options available at left-back, he will have to compete for playing time once he is declared fit.

Injuries have repeatedly disrupted Mendy’s progress at Real Madrid in recent seasons, limiting his ability to maintain consistency despite his defensive qualities and experience.

His struggles were particularly evident last season, when he managed just nine appearances for the club, accumulating only 452 minutes before another injury setback brought his campaign to a premature end.

Real Madrid will therefore be cautious with Mendy’s comeback, with the priority likely to be ensuring that he reaches full fitness before being reintroduced to competitive action.