Foot Mercato reports that Kounde's continued absence from training since he twisted his left ankle on October 17th is becoming increasingly concerning. His recovery was initially expected to take no more than two weeks, but the timeline has since been extended several times.
Kounde is likely to miss next Sunday's crucial match against Atletico Madrid, having already sat out the Clasico and the game against Paris Saint-Germain. As a result, he may also be left out of Zidane's squad, which will be announced this Friday. In Spain, the prolonged absence has raised questions about the player's physical condition and his short-term prospects in Catalonia.