Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti has decided to summon Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Eder Militao and Andriy Lunin for the next Merengues meeting. As a reminder, the Madrilenians are preparing to play 0 matches during this international break… Joking over, the cascade of forfeits in the ranks of Casa Blanca places the latter at the heart of a major controversy. And for good reason. If the case of the Bondynois – absent with the Blues but starting against Villarreal on Saturday evening – has continued to be talked about, other players will also stay in Madrid at a time when the selections are preparing to play different matches. Enough to question observers.
The Mbappé case divides…
Is Real Madrid blocking its players? Are these real unavailability or rather diplomatic wounds? So many questions today put forward by the world press. “The truce does not come at the right time because it never comes at the right time. You lose your players and it’s hard for them to come back and recover, especially for those who go to play in South America. What I’m asking is that there be no injuries. This is the greatest danger”had, as a reminder, declared Carlo Ancelotti during the last international window. A distrust of this period logically pushing the various followers to question the exact nature of the packages mentioned.
Indeed, Kylian Mbappé – not called up by Didier Deschamps for the two upcoming League of Nations matches, against Israel, Thursday in Budapest, then in Belgium, the following Monday, in Brussels – opened this controversy. Announced on the flank, the former PSG striker, recently injured in the thigh, nevertheless started on Saturday evening against Villarreal. The opportunity for him to play 70 minutes, without shining. Far from it. But that’s not all. In addition to the Madrid number 9, the club from the Spanish capital will also keep three other players at its side during this international break.
Tension rises between Real and the Brazilian Federation
Injured in the neck this weekend, Vinicius Junior is already out of the Seleçao’s 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Peru, just like his Madrid teammate Eder Militao. The latter also caused a controversy between the Merengues and the Brazilian Federation. As indicated by Sportin today’s edition, the CBF has indeed decided to force the player to go to Brazil to undergo tests and evaluate his injury. A decision which did not fail to annoy the upper echelons of Madrid. This unnecessary movement, contrary to the flexibility shown by Vinicius, thus generated discomfort in Chamartín.
The player – who traveled 12 hours to São Paulo – finally made his return to Valdebebas and will now begin his recovery process, with the hope of being available for the next match against Celta. Finally, another package should be noted in the Madrid ranks. Sunday evening, the Ukrainian Federation confirmed the absence of its goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who is suffering from a “viral infection”. Starting in Real Madrid’s last two matches, the 25-year-old goalkeeper will also stay in the Spanish capital to receive treatment.
If Florentino Pérez’s club sent nine players to the selection for this international break – Antonio Rüdiger (Germany), Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga (France), Federico Valverde (Uruguay), Jude Bellingham (England), Luka Modric (Croatia), Arda Güler (Turkey), Rodrygo and Endrick (Brazil) – the controversy continues to grow over the management of the Merengues with regard to this international break, with some accusing the current second in Liga of not respecting the selections. One thing is certain, this cascade of packages is now helping Real Madrid’s affairs, which will therefore be able to pamper the names previously mentioned…
