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What's the story?
Lyon left-back Ferland Mendy has already passed his Real Madrid medical, but Los Blancos want to have another examination to look into his hip, which has given him problems in the past, it has been claimed.
In case you didn't know...
Mendy is a highly rated 23-year-old left-back, and Real Madrid are keen on signing him to replace the ageing Marcelo.
The France international was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season in both 2017-18 and 2018-19, and has a bright future ahead of him.
The heart of the matter
The financial part of the deal has already been agreed with both the club and the player, with Mendy's injury concern being the only issue delaying the transfer. A second medical examination will be conducted to confirm that the Frenchman's hip problem will not become a recurring issue in the future.
Before spending time at Le Havre's youth set-up, Mendy had been a part of Paris Saint-Germain's academy. He was released from their youth team when a form of arthritis in his hip forced him out of action for a prolonged period when he was just 15 years old.
Mendy is known for being a very balanced full-back, focusing on both the offensive and defensive parts of his game. His relentless running and offensive output in the final third have earned him comparisons to his namesake Benjamin Mendy oh Manchester City.
He started 27 Ligue 1 matches for Lyon last season, scoring two goals and providing one assist. His performances in the Champions League, especially against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, enhanced his reputation as one of Europe's most promising young defenders.
With Real Madrid's current left-back Marcelo recently turning 31, Mendy will prove to be a quality addition to Zinedine Zidane's squad.
What's next?
Mendy has been included in Didier Deschamps' France squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Turkey and Andorra.
Following that, Zidane will want him rested ahead of Real Madrid's pre-season in the United states.
