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Kylian Mbappé has pushed back against reports claiming Real Madrid's medical team misdiagnosed his knee injury by initially treating the wrong knee.
Several reports surfaced earlier this week alleging an embarrassing blunder by Madrid's medical staff, but despite the mounting evidence, Mbappé stepped forward publicly to insist the rumors are simply "not true."
"Perhaps I carry some indirect responsibility for this situation, because when you don't share what's happening with you, it opens the door to speculation, and everyone rushes to fill in the gaps," Mbappé told reporters.
"Now, with Real Madrid, we've always maintained fairly clear communication, whether it was when I began my rehabilitation in Madrid, or when I was in Paris, where I was accompanied by the doctor, a physiotherapist and the club's fitness coach, and we worked from Paris, so there is no issue with that.
"We're at a critical point in the season. The team has been performing well without me. When I got injured, I wasn't available and people assumed I was the only answer, but that wasn't the case. What matters most is the team."
Several outlets that originally broke the story have continued to stand behind their reporting despite Mbappé's public denial.
Mbappé Among Real Madrid Stars 'Losing Faith' in Real Madrid Medical Staff
According to L'Équipe, it took close to three months before a formal diagnosis was reached on Mbappé's persistent injury, and that only happened after the Frenchman took matters into his own hands.
Mbappé reportedly went around Madrid's back to contact French specialist Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, who became the first to provide an actual specific diagnosis.
While Mbappé has tried to defend his club publicly, a prior media appearance on Monday was widely interpreted as a veiled criticism directed at Madrid's staff.
"I went through a lot of frustration, anger and anxiety at one point because I had no idea what was wrong with me," he recalled. "Many people offered their diagnosis, and until recently, I had none. I received it on a very specific date that I'm not able to disclose right now."
"I didn't handle this period in the best way. I wasn't the happiest player in the world."
Criticism of Madrid's medical department is nothing new and, according to the report, extends well beyond Mbappé. Several players are said to have lost confidence in the team, and it is even alleged that Madrid officials consult with the doctor of NBA powerhouse the Los Angeles Lakers to cross-check the opinions of their own medical staff.
In Mbappé's case, he is reported to have contacted president Florentino Pérez to decline any further treatment from Madrid's staff. He will instead work with Christophe Baudot, the former medical chief at Paris Saint-Germain who now heads that department for the Morocco national team.