Ferland Mendy has been out for a long time. I can hardly remember the last time he played properly and consistently.
He has always been injury-prone, but in the past few seasons the problem has become excessive. Every now and then, a new setback arises and it pulls the team back.
This, along with his lack of offensive quality, was one of the biggest reasons Real Madrid signed Alvaro Carreras.
Carreras is doing an excellent job, and I doubt whether Ferland Mendy will even start a game with him around. Carreras fits seamlessly into Xabi Alonso’s system and is simply too good to be displaced.
Mendy, on the other hand, remains sidelined. However, according to Marca, he is planning to return to full availability by the end of September.
Real Madrid veteran nearing return after lengthy injury spell
Ferland Mendy’s case is a curious one. He has saved Los Blancos on countless occasions and has been extremely important in past seasons. His contributions over the years were nothing short of extraordinary.
But we must recognize that he is not the profile Xabi Alonso wants to work with. Full-backs in Alonso’s system need to be proactive in attack and function almost like second wingers. That is the level Xabi demands, and Ferland Mendy has never been that kind of player.
On his day, Mendy is one of the best defensive full-backs in the world. But defense alone is not enough for this team’s needs. That is the only aspect Mendy reliably offers, and it leaves him limited in this setup.
In fact, even Fran Garcia seems better placed to cover for Carreras than Mendy does.
The conclusion is simple. While it is positive news that Mendy will return in a month’s time, there is little to no chance he will regain the importance he once held.