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Real Madrid have received a welcome surprise before their crucial Champions League meeting with Juventus — Ferland Mendy is back.
The French left-back has been named in the squad for the first time since March, ending a long spell on the sidelines with a quadriceps injury.
For months, Madrid fans wondered when they’d see Mendy back in action. The defender has been training normally this week and is said to have fully recovered.
His return gives Xabi Alonso more options ahead of Wednesday’s European test — though the question now is whether he’ll start or stay on the bench.
Mendy’s absence has allowed Alvaro Carreras to impress at left-back, while Fran Garcia has also staked his claim.
Alonso’s challenge will be finding a balance that keeps all three happy — and fit — through a busy schedule.
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Selection headache for Xabi Alonso?
Real Madrid’s defensive picture remains complicated. Antonio Rudiger is still recovering from a muscle injury, while David Alaba is out for at least another week after picking up a calf issue against Getafe.
Meanwhile, Dani Carvajal is serving the final game of his Champions League suspension, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, though back in training, hasn’t been cleared for selection.
That means Alonso could once again shuffle his pack. Raul Asencio and Eder Militao partnered well in the last match, and there’s even talk that Federico Valverde could fill in at right-back — because in Madrid, midfielders apparently do everything these days.
Mendy’s return is perfectly timed, but it also sparks speculation about his long-term role.
Since joining from Lyon in 2019, he’s made over 200 appearances, but reports suggest his place could be under review with Carreras now the preferred starter.
Some believe Mendy might move on by 2026 if his minutes don’t improve. For now, though, Madrid will just be glad to have him available again.
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