Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé included in Real Madrid’s Champions League roster
Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham have both been included in Real Madrid’s squad for their upcoming Champions League round-of-16 second leg match against Manchester City on Tuesday.
Mbappé has been recuperating from a sprain in his left knee and last played for Madrid on February 21 during their 2-1 LaLiga loss to Osasuna.
Although coach Álvaro Arbeloa had indicated he anticipated that star forward Mbappé — who has netted 13 goals in the Champions League this season — would make the trip to Manchester, the unexpected inclusion of Bellingham is ahead of the anticipated timeline.
ESPN previously reported that the midfielder was not expected to return until April, and England coach Thomas Tuchel had voiced uncertainty regarding Bellingham’s availability for the international fixtures later this month.
Bellingham has not participated in a match since February 1 due to a muscle injury, and while Arbeloa has opted to include him in the squad, a source informed ESPN that he is unlikely to play against City.
Both players were missing during Madrid’s 4-1 LaLiga victory over Elche on Saturday, where coach Arbeloa had to rely on several academy players to address the team’s injury situation.
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“[On Sunday] we’ll train at Valdebebas, we’ll assess Mbappé, and we’ll see how he feels,” Arbeloa stated following that match. “I hope he’ll be available. If he can be in Manchester, it will be excellent news.”
Left-back Álvaro Carreras has also returned to the squad for the match against City.
Mbappé, Bellingham, and Carreras all missed Madrid’s solid 3-0 win over the Premier League team in the first leg at the Bernabéu last week, where Federico Valverde scored a hat-trick.
