Real Madrid have submitted their UEFA Champions League squad without left-back Ferland Mendy, meaning the France international will be unavailable to the Spanish club during the league phase of this season’s competition.
The 31-year-old is currently recovering from yet another injury, sustained at the beginning of May. His omission from the list registered with UEFA was reported by Madrid Xtra.
Mendy’s absence removes an experienced defensive option from Real Madrid’s squad for the early stages of Europe’s leading club competition. The decision comes while the player continues his rehabilitation and leaves him unable to help the team in its Champions League matches.
The French defender made nine appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions last season. Three of those outings came in the Champions League, including the second leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid lost that match 4-3, a result which confirmed their elimination from the tournament. Mendy’s appearance in that game was therefore his final Champions League involvement of the campaign cited in the report.
His overall number of appearances last season was limited to nine, with injury again affecting his availability. The latest problem, suffered in early May, has now contributed to his exclusion from the squad submitted for this season’s league phase.
The club’s UEFA list includes the players registered to take part in the Champions League, but Mendy’s name does not feature among those selected. As a result, Real Madrid will begin their European campaign without the left-back while he continues treatment on his injury.
Mendy joined the club’s plans last season on a limited basis, featuring in nine matches across all competitions and appearing three times in Europe. One of those European appearances came against Bayern Munich in the return fixture of the quarter-final, where Real Madrid were beaten 4-3 and knocked out.
For now, his focus remains on recovering from the injury picked up at the start of May. Until he is fit again, he will not be part of Real Madrid’s registered group for the Champions League league phase.
