French forward Kylian Mbappe is dealing with an illness ahead of Real Madrid’s opening match in the Club World Cup against Al Hilal.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe may not play in the team’s first Club World Cup match against Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia, as he missed training on Tuesday due to being unwell.
The club reported that Mbappe has been experiencing a fever. Xabi Alonso, the newly appointed manager set to make his debut in Wednesday’s game, said a decision on whether Mbappe will play will be made in the morning.
“Kylian showed some improvement this morning, but he wasn’t fully recovered, so we decided it was best for him to miss training. We’ll see how he feels and make a last-minute decision,” Alonso mentioned in a press conference before the match at Hard Rock Stadium.
If Mbappe is unable to play, Alonso will face a challenge in selecting his lineup, as he is currently the only recognized center-forward on the team.
Brazilian youngster Endrick, who could have been a backup option, did not make the trip after suffering a leg muscle injury during a La Liga match against Sevilla last month.
This season, Mbappe has been a key player for Real Madrid, scoring 31 goals in La Liga since his high-profile transfer from Paris St Germain.
Even without Mbappe, Alonso emphasized that the team needs to work together defensively. “Defending well is crucial. It’s one of our immediate focuses, and in the long term, it will be vital for our success,” the Spanish manager said.
Real Madrid enters the tournament as one of the favorites, having been dominant in European football over the past decade, claiming five of the last ten Champions League titles.
Al Hilal earned their spot in the tournament by winning the AFC Champions League in 2021 and will aim to exploit any vulnerabilities in Madrid’s squad.
Real and Al Hilal have been placed in Group F alongside Mexico’s Pachuca and Austria’s RB Salzburg.
