Paris – Kylian Mbappé has delivered reassuring news regarding his recent knee injury, stating he is now pain-free and prepared to feature for France in their upcoming friendly matches against Brazil and Colombia. The update, provided Monday evening, comes as a significant boost for Les Bleus ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
The France captain had been sidelined for 54 days due to an injury sustained to his left knee, sparking concern over his availability for both Real Madrid’s title push and the national team’s preparations for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The uncertainty fueled speculation, with numerous unconfirmed diagnoses circulating in the media.
“Today, I have nothing,” Mbappé said, as reported by AFP and L’Équipe. “There were a lot of frustrations, anger, and worry. I heard a lot of false things.”
Mbappé Details Recovery Process
Mbappé revealed the initial period following the injury was marked by uncertainty, as he awaited a definitive diagnosis. He acknowledged the anxiety surrounding the potential severity of the injury, which at one point led to speculation about the possibility of surgery. However, he emphasized that a surgical intervention was never seriously considered.
“Many people gave a diagnosis, I heard a lot of things that weren’t true,” he stated. He confirmed that at the most severe point, he had a partial ligament tear, but that it wouldn’t sideline him beyond April. “There was never any debate about the World Cup or the end of the season with Real Madrid.”
The 27-year-old forward, who has been in stellar form for Real Madrid this season with 38 goals in 34 matches, made a brief appearance off the bench in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid on Sunday, receiving a warm reception from the Santiago Bernabéu crowd. He also logged minutes in a Champions League match against Manchester City the previous week, signaling his return to fitness.
Mbappé explained he followed a carefully managed protocol to ease back into action. “I was in a protocol where I wanted to start playing gently with the desire to play being there. I hope I can play during this international break and start being decisive again,” he said.
Looking Ahead to the US Tour
France will travel to the United States this week for a pair of high-profile friendlies. They will face Brazil on Thursday and Colombia on Sunday. Mbappé emphasized the importance of these matches as preparation for the World Cup, despite their friendly status.
“It’s a friendly match, but when you play Brazil, it’s the biggest nation in football with five World Cups, it’s incredible to play against them. It’s a team that can win the World Cup, it’s fine to gauge ourselves against them,” Mbappé said. “Even if we can’t draw many lessons from this get-together, we will be able to draw a few.”
He added emphatically, “We’re not going there on vacation, we’re going there to prepare for the World Cup.”
Future of the National Team
The conversation also touched upon the future of the French national team’s head coaching position, following the expected departure of Didier Deschamps after the World Cup. Mbappé acknowledged the ongoing speculation surrounding potential replacements, with Zinédine Zidane widely considered the frontrunner.
“The president is in control of the tempo, we’ll observe who it will be,” Mbappé said, referencing French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo, who recently stated he knows the identity of the next coach.
Mbappé arrived at Clairefontaine, the French national team’s training center, on Monday afternoon and will join his teammates on their flight to the United States on Tuesday. The matches against Brazil and Colombia will provide valuable opportunities for the team to fine-tune their preparations for the World Cup, and for Mbappé to demonstrate his fitness and form ahead of the tournament.
The forward’s positive update will undoubtedly be welcomed by fans and the French coaching staff alike, as they look ahead to a potentially historic summer. The ability to have their captain and talisman fully fit will be crucial as they aim to add a third star to their crest.
Archysport will continue to provide updates on Mbappé’s progress and the French national team’s preparations for the World Cup.
