Mourinho excludes Mendy from Champions League squad despite return to training

José Mourinho has officially confirmed the exclusion of Ferland Mendy from Real Madrid’s 25-player squad registered with UEFA for the Champions League league phase. The French international, who has not played a single minute this season, is paying the price for a serious right-leg tendon tear sustained at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Despite returning to group training around two weeks ago, the former Lyon player failed to convince Madrid’s coaching staff to reserve him a spot. The most optimistic medical forecasts suggest a return to competition in late September or early October, but the sporting directors were unwilling to take that risk. A medical history deemed too heavy over the seasons weighed in the balance.

Mourinho has no shortage of alternatives in the left-back position: Spanish World Cup winner Marc Cucurella will be the priority, supported by young Álvaro Carreras to cover the position.

This decision comes in an already tense context for Real Madrid, which begins its European campaign against Inter Milan at Santiago Bernabéu under difficult circumstances. Real will have to do without Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva, all three suspended, while Aurélien Tchouaméni remains highly uncertain.

Mendy is not the only high-profile player affected by UEFA squad lists. At Manchester United, Leny Yoro and Kobbie Mainoo are absent from the main list but will feature in the B list reserved for under-21s. Situations are more definitive elsewhere: Monaco excluded Folarin Balogun from its Europa Conference League list following the failure of his medical examination at Everton, and Juventus dispensed with Khephren Thuram, set for knee surgery that will keep him out until 2027.