Kylian Mbappé refuted claims that Real Madrid doctors misdiagnosed his December knee injury by scanning the wrong knee. Speaking in Boston ahead of France's friendly against Brazil, the forward took some responsibility for fueling rumors through lack of communication and said he feels fully fit.
Kylian Mbappé addressed reports from RMC and EL PAÍS—published yesterday—that Real Madrid's medical staff erred by performing an MRI on his right knee instead of the injured left one after his December 7 clash with Celta de Vigo. "The information that they examined the wrong knee is false," the Real Madrid and France captain stated Wednesday during the team's camp in Boston, ahead of Thursday's friendly against Brazil.
Mbappé, who played full matches against Alavés, Talavera, and Sevilla from December 14-20 despite discomfort—equaling Cristiano Ronaldo's calendar-year goal record—underwent a second MRI on December 31 revealing a small tear in the posterior cruciate ligament of his left knee, sidelining him for three weeks. He missed the Supercopa semifinal on January 8 but featured for 15 minutes in the final on January 11, before a second opinion in Paris with surgeon Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet in February led to a revised recovery plan and his return on March 8.
Acknowledging his role in the speculation, Mbappé said: "Perhaps I have some indirect responsibility, because when you don't communicate, rumors arise, that's the game." He described communication with Real Madrid as "always quite clear" and praised the team's results in his absence. France coach Didier Deschamps indicated Mbappé could start but not play the full match to manage risks. Mbappé affirmed he is "in full condition" and focused on the present.
