Real Madrid confirmed on Tuesday that Mbappé did not participate in training after coming down with a fever. Newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso, who will make his managerial debut in Wednesday’s game at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, said a final decision on Mbappé’s availability would be made on the day of the match.
“Kylian was a bit better this morning, but he was not fully fit, so we thought it would be best for him to skip training,” Alonso said at a press conference. “Let’s see how it evolves, and we’ll make a last-minute decision.”Mbappé’s potential absence presents a challenge for Alonso, as the French star is currently the squad’s only recognized centre-forward. Brazilian teenager Endrick, seen as a promising alternative, did not travel with the squad after sustaining a muscle injury in a recent La Liga match against Sevilla.
The 25-year-old Mbappé has had a strong start to his Real Madrid career, scoring 31 goals in La Liga since his summer transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid enters the tournament as one of the favourites, following their dominant run in Europe, including five Champions League titles over the past decade. Al Hilal, winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League, are expected to capitalise on any weaknesses in Madrid’s lineup.
The two sides are joined in Group F by Mexico’s Pachuca and Austria’s RB Salzburg. The club has already strengthened its squad with the additions of former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, aiming to reinforce both defense and versatility. With these reinforcements in place, Los Blancos will be looking to kick off their title campaign with a strong performance as they aim to secure their first major trophy under new manager Xabi Alonso. Drawn into Group F, they will face Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, Mexico’s Pachuca, and Austria’s RB Salzburg.