Kylian Mbappe has dismissed reports about his knee injury as “false,” insisting he is fit enough to play every game for Real Madrid between now and the World Cup.
Earlier this month, Madrid said Mbappe had aggravated a knee problem first suffered in December, although the club stated that surgery would not be required.
After missing five matches, the France captain returned as a substitute in Madrid’s Champions League last-16 second-leg win over Manchester City.
He also came off the bench on Sunday as Alvaro Arbeloa’s side held on for a 3-2 victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid despite Federico Valverde’s late red card.
Mbappe has been included in Didier Deschamps’ squad for France’s friendlies against Brazil and Colombia this month, with Arbeloa facing questions about the forward’s selection before the Atletico clash.
Speaking to AS, Mbappe said he is ready to support Madrid for the rest of the season before turning his attention to helping France chase another World Cup triumph.
“My knee is fine. It’s getting better,” Mbappe said.
“It’s going quite well, and I know there’s been a lot of speculation about it and some false things have been said.
“It’s the life of a top athlete, and we’re used to people saying things without verifying them or having any basis in fact.
“I prepared for the last two World Cups in the best way possible, which is to play, score goals, win titles, and fight until the last minute for my club, and this year I am going to do the same to arrive in top form.”
Despite his injury concerns, Mbappe has still been in excellent form for Madrid this season.
He has scored 38 goals and provided five assists in 35 matches since the end of last year’s Club World Cup, with only Harry Kane producing more goals and overall goal involvements among players in Europe’s top five leagues during that period.
France’s upcoming friendlies will take place in the United States, with games against Brazil in Foxborough on Thursday and Colombia in Landover on Sunday.
Les Bleus are also scheduled to play two more pre-World Cup friendlies in June, one against Ivory Coast and another against an unnamed European nation, before opening their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16.
