Real Madrid to start Champions League without Ferland Mendy

Ferland Mendy has been left out of Real Madrid’s squad for the league phase of the Champions League and will not be available to help the Spanish side in its opening matches of the competition.

Real Madrid have submitted their list of registered players to UEFA for Europe’s most prestigious club tournament, but the France international’s name is not included, according to Madrid Xtra.

Mendy, 31, is currently recovering from another injury sustained at the beginning of May. His omission means Real Madrid will begin the league phase without one of their established left-backs, although the club’s squad registration has been completed while the defender continues his rehabilitation.

The latest setback follows a season in which Mendy made only nine appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions. His involvement in the Champions League was limited to three matches.

One of those appearances came in the second leg of Real Madrid’s quarter-final against Bayern Munich. The match ended in a 4-3 defeat for the Madrid side, who were eliminated from the tournament.

Mendy’s absence from the UEFA list is therefore the latest development in a campaign that has been disrupted by injury. He will not be able to feature for Real Madrid during the league phase, with his current fitness problems preventing him from being included among the players registered for the competition.

The French defender’s most recent Champions League appearance came in that quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich. It was one of only three European outings he made for Real Madrid last season, while his nine appearances across all competitions underlined the limited amount of football he was able to play.

Real Madrid’s submission to UEFA confirms that Mendy is not part of the club’s registered group for the league phase. The 31-year-old remains focused on recovering from the injury he picked up in early May, but his return date has not been stated.

For now, the club must begin its Champions League campaign without him. Mendy’s exclusion is directly linked to his ongoing recovery, following a season in which injuries restricted his opportunities and kept him on the sidelines for long periods.

His absence is particularly notable because the left-back did play a role in Real Madrid’s previous Champions League campaign, appearing three times before the team’s elimination by Bayern Munich. However, his involvement was not enough to secure a place in the squad submitted for the new league phase.

Madrid Xtra was the outlet to report that Mendy had not been included in the list sent to UEFA. The decision comes as the player continues to recover from the latest injury he suffered at the start of May.