Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said on Saturday he has «maximum confidence» in French superstar Kylian Mbappe ahead of the derby clash against Atletico Madrid.
Mbappe returned from a knee sprain on Tuesday as a substitute against Manchester City after missing five games. Arbeloa said he was excited to have the forward back at 100 percent, along with fit-again England international Jude Bellingham.
The duo are in Madrid’s squad for Sunday’s La Liga match against Diego Simeone’s Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I already told you that the day Mbappe came back would be the day he would be 100 percent,” Arbeloa told reporters.
“I think in the minutes we saw him in Manchester, with the two or three bursts of pace he made, all those actions showed that he is in top form and, above all, (it’s about) his own feelings…
«We have maximum confidence, maximum security and maximum excitement to have a player like him back, so decisive and at 100 percent.»
Mbappe is Madrid’s top scorer this season with 38 goals in 34 games in all competitions.
Arbeloa said he was pleased that the French national team has called up Mbappe for matches against Brazil and Colombia in the United States next week.
«I think it’s fantastic. He is a player who is available for the coach, who has already played with us and who will definitely play tomorrow, so I don’t see any problem with him going for his national team,» Arbeloa added.
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England coach Thomas Tuchel has called Bellingham up for international duty, even though the midfielder has not played since February 1 due to a hamstring injury.
«He’s available now, he’ll be in the squad tomorrow. We’ll see if he plays. I think so, he’s available and I’m really looking forward to seeing him on the pitch,» Arbeloa said.
“From there it is normal that he can join his national team.
«It is clear that Jude Bellingham is a very intelligent player. He knows very well what he is doing at any moment and in which situation he is in, but for my part I am very happy that he will be available tomorrow and ready to help us.»
Madrid will be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who will miss several weeks with a thigh injury, but Arbeloa said he had confidence in his replacement Andriy Lunin.
“The best goalkeeper in history gets injured, and we have another excellent goalkeeper who will once again show how good he is,” Arbeloa said, adding that he has “the utmost confidence” in the Ukrainian.
Published on March 21, 2026
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