Sports

Kylian Mbappé Denies Report That Real Madrid Misdiagnosed Injury After Scanning Wrong Knee

Mbappé played in three games before a scan was reportedly performed on the knee that was actually injured.

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid CF looks on during the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match.
Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty

Kylian Mbappé has spoken out about a report alleging the Real Madrid medical staff misdiagnosed an injury to his left knee in December because an MRI scan was performed on his right knee.

“The information that Real Madrid examined the wrong knee is NOT true,” Mbappé said, according to Fabrizio Romano. “We’ve always had clear communication with Real Madrid.”

Sources told Guillermo Rai and Mario Cortegana of The Athletic that Mbappé played in three consecutive games before a scan revealed a partial posterior knee ligament tear. In a statement released on Dec. 31, Real Madrid classified the injury as a left knee sprain.

Mbappé sustained the injury during a match against Celta Vigo on Dec. 7 when he suffered what the coaching staff believed to be a blow to his knee. When the alleged scan on the wrong knee found no issues, the French striker returned to action on Dec. 14 against Alavés, followed by Talavera on Dec. 17 and Sevilla on Dec. 20.

Mbappé did not come off the pitch early in any of these games, even though there were reported signs of inflammation to his left knee.

When Mbappé returned to Real Madrid after the Christmas break on Dec. 30, he was seen grabbing his left knee while speaking with the medical staff. The following day, the statement was published.

Mbappé made his return on Jan. 11 against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, coming off the bench and playing 14 minutes.

Mbappé would go on to play in eight of the next 10 games, but his knee issues persisted. Accompanied by the Real Madrid medical staff, the 27-year-old traveled to Paris earlier this month to undergo additional tests and treatment on his knee.

The alleged blunder was first reported by Daniel Riolo of RMC Sport.

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