In Madrid, Kylian Mbappé’s recovery has become a subject of scrutiny well beyond the treatment room. The French forward remains sidelined after suffering a left-knee problem while playing for France against Turkey, but social-media posts showing him on a bicycle and later running on a treadmill have prompted concern among Real Madrid supporters.
The news from the club
Mbappé was unable to complete France’s UEFA Nations League match against Turkey after picking up the injury on Friday, 25 September. Real Madrid confirmed the following day that he had sustained hyperextension to the posterior capsule of his left knee.
The assessment ruled out a more serious problem within the joint, with an initial recovery estimate of around three weeks. The club said his progress would be monitored, although Mbappé did not immediately return to Spain to begin rehabilitation work.
That detail has made his recent Instagram activity more noticeable. Before posting footage of himself cycling, Mbappé shared a clip of a treadmill session. While neither activity establishes a setback, the bicycle post has unsettled supporters worried that a fall could complicate his return.
The discussion also revived José Mourinho’s recent warning about footballers taking avoidable risks away from the pitch. The Real Madrid coach argued that players should not go skiing or cycling in their free time because one accident could cost them matches—or lead to a broken leg.
The calendar ahead
Recovery from this type of knee-capsule hyperextension can range from roughly 12 days to four weeks. Mbappé’s expected absence has been placed at close to three weeks, pointing towards a possible return around 16 October.
That timetable could leave the forward unavailable for Real Madrid’s meetings with Villarreal in LaLiga and AS Roma in the Champions League. A return against Sevilla on Sunday, 18 October, remains a potential target if his rehabilitation continues without complications.
