There is a growing sense of concern inside Real Madrid, and the latest setback involving Ferland Mendy has only made things worse.
What was meant to be a routine moment early in the game against Espanyol turned into another worrying scene.
Just ten minutes into the match, Mendy sprinted back towards his own goal to deal with a loose ball. It looked like a standard defensive action, but within seconds, he went down again.
Holding his right hip and clearly in pain, the left-back showed the kind of reaction that suggested he already knew the outcome. Notably, it marked his fifth injury of the season.
Another injury-ridden season
His involvement this season has been extremely limited, as Mendy has featured in just nine matches, managing only 448 minutes on the pitch.
His struggles began after picking up a muscle issue in last season’s Copa del Rey final, which delayed his return for months.
In fact, former manager Xabi Alonso had to wait until late November to call upon him again, with his comeback coming in a Champions League fixture against Olympiacos.
Mendy’s situation is part of a much bigger problem that is now impossible to ignore.
Injuries have hit the squad repeatedly, and the numbers are beginning to paint a worrying picture.
With both Mendy and Dani Carvajal dealing with physical setbacks, the total number of injuries suffered by the squad this season has reached 57.
When added to last season’s tally of 63 injuries, the club has now dealt with a staggering 120 injuries over two seasons.
That is not just bad luck anymore. It is a pattern that is affecting performance, squad stability, and planning.
At Real Madrid, there is growing frustration among the club’s leadership, who are struggling to understand why these problems keep repeating.
The constant disruption has made it difficult to maintain rhythm on the pitch, and it is starting to take a visible toll.
