Real Madrid defender set to miss the early parts of La Liga and Champions League | OneFootball

In a little over a couple of weeks, Real Madrid will kickstart their 2025/26 season in La Liga against Osasuna.

It will be a challenge for manager Xabi Alonso given the limited pre-season that he will have with his players following their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup earlier in the summer.

Heading up to the new season, Alonso is also unlikely to be without some of his players, including Jude Bellingham, who recently underwent shoulder surgery.

Ferland Mendy will also be unavailable

Now, according to MARCA, it is increasingly unlikely that Ferland Mendy will be fit in time for the start of La Liga in August or the UEFA Champions League in September.

The French defender, who was the only Real Madrid player training at Valdebebas during the Club World Cup, underwent surgery on 30 April to repair a proximal tendon tear in his right quadriceps. Since then, he has been working towards his comeback.

Beyond simply following a recovery programme to regain fitness, he is focused on returning to Real Madrid’s squad as soon as possible, and staying there, despite persistent rumours about a potential exit following the arrival of Alvaro Carreras this summer.

Still recovering from his injury. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Speculation about Mendy’s future has grown with the arrival of Xabi Alonso. Under Ancelotti, he was the regular starter at left-back when fit. But the signing of Carreras after the World Cup has further fuelled doubts about his role.

At the Club World Cup, Alonso relied entirely on Fran García at left-back. He featured in every match at the tournament and his solid performances have only added further doubts around Mendy’s future.

However, the Frenchman remains calm and confident he can reclaim his place once fully recovered. From his perspective, nothing has changed – neither he nor his representatives have received any indication from the club that he is no longer part of their plans.

For now, though, it is unlikely that Mendy will be ready for the start of the new season in La Liga or the Champions League. But he remains determined to recover as soon as possible and stay at Real Madrid.