Back to Football
Breaking ⚽ Football 3 min read

Bellingham and Mbappe ready for Atletico, reveals Real Madrid boss Arbeloa

RE

Reuters

Published 3 months ago

Real Madrid have been boosted by the return of midfielder Jude Bellingham ⁠from a hamstring injury ahead of Sunday's LaLiga derby against Atletico, and forward Kylian Mbappe is fully ‌fit, manager Alvaro Arbeloa said on Saturday.

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Bellingham[/a], 22, has missed 10 matches ‌after sustaining the injury in February. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Mbappe[/a], 27, ‌made his return as a second-half substitute in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real[/a]'s 2-1 ‌Champions League round-of-16 second-leg victory at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] on ‌Tuesday.[/p][p]"[b]Bellingham's available now; he'll be in the squad tomorrow. We'll see if he plays - I think he will. I'm really looking ‌forward to seeing him on the pitch[/b]," [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arbeloa-alvaro/CO9bjrLo/"]⁠Arbeloa[/a] told reporters ahead ‌of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=tQIsOmIc"]the clash at the Bernabeu[/a].[/p][p]Second-placed Real are four points ​behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] after 28 matches, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico[/a] are fourth.[/p][p]Asked whether Mbappe, LaLiga's leading scorer this season ​with 23 goals, had fully recovered from a left knee sprain or was still managing discomfort because the team ⁠needed him, Arbeloa ​was unequivocal.[/p][image alt="Top of LaLiga" id="870b6491-6e69-49ee-a99c-db227a02cb03" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a3c32e1d-391a-4574-895e-3ec003acf0fa" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]"[b]The day he returns, it's because he's 100%. The minutes we saw him play in Manchester, I think every single action showed he's in great shape[/b]," he said.[/p][p]"Above ‌all, it's about how he feels - that's what matters in the end. How he felt and how he's feeling in training. Maximum confidence, maximum assurance and maximum excitement to have such a game-changing player back."[/p][p]Bellingham was named on Friday in England manager Thomas Tuchel's 35-man squad for this month's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan as preparations continue for the World Cup.[/p][p]Mbappe was included in ‌France's squad for friendlies against Brazil and Colombia.[/p][p]"They're incredibly important ​players for me, but they're just as important ‌for their national team managers, especially with the World Cup coming up," Arbeloa said.[/p][p]"[b]I've been lucky enough to represent my country and I know what it feels like - the pride and the responsibility that comes ⁠with it. I understand ⁠the situation perfectly, so ‌no, there's no problem at all[/b]."[/p]

Related stories

⚽ Football New

Spain's 10th all-time top scorer Ferran Torres hopes to end his World Cup drought

BeSoccer
⚽ Football New

Uruguay's Valverde looking to use Madrid frustration as motivation for Spain clash

AFP
⚽ Football New

How veteran midfielder Gueye brings more to Senegal than first meets the eye

Anna Carreau & Daniel Musil
⚽ Football New

Elanga 'scolded' by Isak for confusion over Sweden's World Cup progression

Reuters
⚽ Football New

EXCLUSIVE: Wycombe prodigy Olabiyi reflects on breakthrough season, Nigeria call-up & more

Shina Oludare
⚽ Football New

Iraq coach Graham Arnold says the pressure's all on Senegal ahead World Cup fixture

Dennis Mabuka in Boston