The French full-back Ferland Mendy returned to start with Real Madrid this season after 27 rounds of the Spanish league, in an appearance that was warmly welcomed within the team, especially after he managed to complete the match without any notable physical issues, marking a positive step following a long series of injuries.

Mendy's return came last Friday in an away match at Balaídos Stadium against Celta Vigo, where the match saw Real Madrid win 2-1 in the final moments of the game.

After the meeting, coach Álvaro Arbeloa highlighted the importance of the player's participation, emphasizing that playing him was a risk after his long absence from competitions. However, he considered him a role model for the rest of the players in terms of commitment and fighting spirit.

The return of the French full-back comes at an important time before the anticipated clash against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League, where he is expected to play a crucial role in stopping the threat from the right side of the English team, which includes notable players like Antoine Semenyo and Savinho.

Mendy has previous experience facing the English team led by Pep Guardiola, having delivered strong performances in past encounters, most notably during the Champions League semi-final in the 2021-2022 season, as well as in the quarter-final of the 2023-2024 season, which Real Madrid won on penalties.

Despite the player's artistic value, recurring injuries have limited his participation in the last two seasons. He missed a large number of matches, with statistics indicating that he played only six matches in the past 365 days, while he missed 124 matches during his time at Real Madrid due to physical issues.

However, the current situation seems different, as Mendy is now ready to participate and endure a full match. This was confirmed by Arbeloa, who stated that the player's presence on the field increases Real Madrid's chances of winning. The biggest challenge remains maintaining his physical readiness to ensure his continued presence with the team during the crucial phase of the season.