Real Madrid has confirmed that Ferland Mendy will be sidelined for 10 to 12 weeks due to a proximal tendon tear in his right thigh muscle, ruling him out of the Club World Cup.

This is his fourth injury this season. Mendy left the pitch after El Clásico, and initial assessments suggested a minor issue, but further tests revealed a severe injury that will keep him out for at least two months, possibly three.

This season has been plagued with injuries for Mendy. His first injury occurred in the fifth match against Real Betis, where he suffered a right tibialis muscle strain. Fortunately, it coincided with an international break, so he missed no games.

His second injury was against Girona, where he tore his right quadriceps muscle, similar to his latest injury. This kept him out of four matches (Atalanta, Rayo Vallecano, Pachuca, and Sevilla), although he was listed for Sevilla but not fully fit.

After recovering, Mendy appeared to regain form, playing 21 consecutive matches without issues. However, during a game at the Metropolitano Stadium, he suffered a left hamstring tear. This injury was severe, lasting five and a half weeks instead of the initially predicted four. He missed nine matches (Copa del Rey return leg, both legs against Arsenal, and six La Liga games).

Real Madrid has played 57 matches this season, surpassing last season’s total (55 matches), and with remaining fixtures, they will reach at least 65 games. Mendy has missed 21 matches due to injuries, equivalent to 32% of the season. He will also miss the Club World Cup, which consists of at least three and up to seven matches.

If Real Madrid plays 69 matches this season, Mendy’s absence will still be significant. In recent training sessions, aside from Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, and Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba, Dani Ceballos, and Kylian Mbappé were also absent. Ceballos, with a minor left ankle sprain, might be ready for the match against Celta Vigo, but the final decision lies with Carlo Ancelotti. Mbappé is recovering from a right ankle injury and will be available for Sunday’s game. Alaba, still suffering from left knee pain (ACL tear), trained alone. If he remains unavailable, Aurélien Tchouaméni will be the primary option for central defense.