JAKARTA - Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa insists that Kylian Mbappe's recovery from injury is all good news despite uncertainty over when the star striker will return to the team.
Mbappe suffered a problem in his left knee - which was confirmed by the club earlier this week - which has plagued him since December 2025, with no definite date for his return.
After the victory over Celta Vigo 2-1 in LaLiga on Saturday, March 7, 2026, early morning WIB, Real Madrid will undergo the first leg of the Champions League 16-final match against Manchester City next week, then a league match against Elche, and the second leg in Manchester City on March 17, 2026.
"Of course, I talk to (Mbappe) every day. Everything is under control, every day he is getting better. I have said that this is a process in which we will live day by day according to his feelings. At the moment, everything is good news," Arbeloa said in a press conference on Friday, March 6, 2026.
Mbappe missed last week's second leg of the Champions League playoff against Benfica, as well as the 0-1 defeat on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Santiago Bernabeu against Getafe, which left Los Blancos four points behind Barcelona in the title race.
Real Madrid are also without an injured Jude Bellingham. He is expected to return in April 2026 after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Mbappe and Bellingham have returned to France and England respectively in recent days, to seek advice on handling their problems. Real Madrid said that doctors in France had approved the appropriateness of the conservative treatment chosen by the club for Mbappe.
"All things related to injuries - Jude in London, Mbappe in Paris - are arranged by Real Madrid's medical services and physical department. Mbappe went to Paris with the Real Madrid staff. Everything is supervised by Real Madrid," said Arbeloa.
Los Blancos have lost two consecutive matches in LaLiga, beaten by Osasuna and Getafe, as they attempt to remain in contention with Barcelona for the title.
"In a team like Real Madrid, defeat is always difficult to face. That's four points. As long as we can still fight mathematically, we will do it, even after that, we will continue to fight," said Arbeloa.
No wonder the pressure is now starting to increase. Two players recruited last summer, Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono, have faced criticism from Madrid supporters and the media for their contributions in recent weeks, with some whistling for Huijsen from the Bernabeu crowd.
"Take the example of Mastantuono, the U-19 team is full of players of his age. At Huijsen's age, he could play for (the reserve team) Castilla."
"Remember what happened with Vinicius, how people talked about him, and now he has two Champions Leagues, he is one of the best in the world. We have to be patient," said Arbeloa.
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