Mbappé out of France duty with a knee injury
Kylian Mbappé scored the winner, then went off. France beat Turkey 1–0 in their Nations League opener on Friday, and Mbappé hurt his left knee shooting on the goal (1)(4)(9).
Zidane did not hide it. "Unfortunately, he is not well. I think he will have to go back to Madrid. We are not going to take risks" (1). A hyperextended knee, and Mbappé returns to Real Madrid with an MRI still to come (8). He was already released from the France squad and misses the next matches (4)(8).
Your best forward, back on a plane.
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Rüdiger's spot and a buy-back plan
Real Madrid's plan is to bring Jacobo Ramón back from Como in June. Javi Rubiano reported it: "El plan del Real Madrid ahora mismo es recuperar a Jacobo Ramón en junio; en principio, para ocupar la ficha de Rüdiger" (7).
Ramón is drawing Premier League interest too (6). The centre-back slot, it seems, is already spoken for.
Alaba has a club again
David Alaba signed for Udinese on Thursday, until the end of the season (11). The Serie A side gives the former Real Madrid defender a place to play again as a free agent (11).
City found guilty, and Madrid's name in the fallout
Manchester City were found guilty of breaching financial rules, and the reports have already linked Real Madrid to three of Enzo Maresca's players (10). It is speculation, not a done deal (7)(10).
Fan reactions
Mbappé's injury is the whole mood right now. The sub is also full of Arda Güler praise after his display against France, with two separate threads calling him the highest-rated player on the pitch. The Güler threads are getting the most attention: Arda Güler vs France.
