Palm Beach: Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso confirmed on Saturday that Kylian Mbappe will miss Sunday’s Club World Cup match against Mexico’s Pachuca due to illness, but could return for the team’s final group game.
Mbappe, 26, was hospitalized earlier in the week with acute gastroenteritis after missing training on Tuesday and sitting out the 1-1 draw against Saudi side Al-Hilal in Miami. He was discharged on Thursday and has since returned to Real Madrid’s training base in Palm Beach.
Although he has not travelled with the squad to face Pachuca, Alonso said Mbappe is steadily recovering and growing stronger daily. The French star could feature on Friday in Real’s next match against Red Bull Salzburg. Mbappe, who signed for Real Madrid last summer from Paris Saint-Germain, had an impressive debut season, scoring 43 goals in 56 games and winning the European Golden Shoe.
Despite his form, Real finished the season without any major silverware. Alonso, who succeeded Carlo Ancelotti in May, remains hopeful about Mbappe’s return later in the tournament.
