Real Madrid surprised by star fullback’s lack of game-time with the national team | OneFootball

Ferland Mendy’s performances have arguably been the most prominent highlight for Real Madrid in this calendar year.

After being closely linked with an exit in the summer of 2023, the Frenchman has proved himself at Real Madrid and is currently the undisputed number-one left-back in the team.

In fact, Mendy is particularly favoured by coach Carlo Ancelotti, who did not urge the club to sign Alphonso Davies this summer, as he was convicted the Frenchman could continue serving as the main left-back this season.

Mendy’s lack of prominence in France

Despite the noticeable improvement in Mendy’s game, though, the left-back enjoys minimal prominence for the French national team and this is something that worries Real Madrid.

According to L’Equipe, Ferland Mendy’s minimal involvement with the French national team has left the leadership, staff, and teammates at Real Madrid perplexed.

Ferland Mendy has enjoyed immense success at Real Madrid (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)

Despite proving his quality repeatedly at the club level, Mendy’s game-time for France has been scarce, raising some serious concerns.

Having solidified his position as Real Madrid’s first-choice left-back, Mendy was instrumental in their 2024/25 campaign, particularly in their record-breaking 15th UEFA Champions League victory.

However, the 29-year-old has found it difficult to earn consistent minutes under France’s national coach.

His most recent international involvement saw him spend Euro 2024 entirely on the bench, failing to make a single appearance.

To add to the confusion, Mendy has only played one game for France in 2024, missing out on the last two Nations League matches due to a training injury.

This has raised questions within Real Madrid’s ranks, with many wondering if Mendy’s lack of game-time is due to reasons outside the realm of football.