Vinicius Junior: 55 Appearances Out of 57 Takes Its Toll
The number alone says everything: Vinicius played in 55 of 57 matches since the Club World Cup. This enormous cumulative load created clear signs of physical fatigue, prompting the club's medical staff to recommend resting him for the upcoming match against Mallorca. The coaching staff faced a tough choice: rest their best player now and keep him fully fresh for the coming European fixtures, or risk further exhaustion?
The technical consensus leaned towards giving the Brazilian a rest against Mallorca while keeping him on standby for bigger battles ahead. Vinicius, who recently reaffirmed his desire to stay at Real Madrid "for a long time," understands that his body needs this pause.
Mbappé Returns to the Starting XI
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé — who came off the bench in the capital derby — is set to return to the starting lineup against Mallorca. The Frenchman started the season amid enormous expectations and mixed performances, but has shown a noticeable improvement in recent months. Mbappé in the XI with Vinicius resting gives the team a different character — more direct, less reliant on the left flank — but it remains a professional choice dictated by circumstances.
The financial arithmetic between the two is also front-page news: Vinicius will surpass Mbappé in fixed monthly salary under an escalation clause in his contract dating from 2023, but Mbappé remains the highest-paid overall thanks to the massive signing bonus he received when he arrived on a free from PSG.
Militão Ends His Longest Absence
The most positive news in the medical updates was the return of Éder Militão after more than three months out. The Brazilian defender, regarded as one of the most important pillars of the La Liga defence, has returned to group training, though his first appearance in a starting XI will be gradual. His absence over this period affected the defensive line in several sensitive fixtures, and his return restores an important margin of confidence to Carlo Ancelotti.
Bellingham: Medical Clearance Without a Confirmed Starting Role
Jude Bellingham has received medical clearance to return to action but will not start immediately, the coaching staff confirmed. The Englishman, considered one of the most valuable players in Real Madrid's midfield structure, went through a mandatory recovery period that kept him off the pitch for several weeks. His gradual return means Ancelotti will need to manage his minutes carefully to avoid any setback.
Dani Ceballos has also returned to training after approximately forty days out, adding another option in central midfield at a time when the squad needs every available resource.
Why Does This Recovery Come at the Perfect Moment?
Real Madrid are at a critical stage of the season: La Liga fixtures are piling up and the Champions League is approaching its decisive rounds. Having Militão, Bellingham, and Ceballos back in the squad — even initially as options off the bench — gives Ancelotti a tactical margin he did not have over the past months.
The Spanish league knows the title may be settled in the final rounds, and every point matters. A fully fit Real Madrid are not an ordinary team — and this medical recovery could be the variable that determines how the season ends.
Summary
April 2026 finds Real Madrid facing the difficult balancing act: resting exhausted stars while reintegrating returning players from injury simultaneously. The temporary absence of Vinicius and the return of Mbappé, Militão, Bellingham, and Ceballos redraw the squad map before the most decisive phase of the season.
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