27 hours prior to their debut in the club World Cup, Mbappé Real Madrid training has missed. It is the big news from the Gardens North County District Park, where Xabi Alonso tightens the screws on the team. But today, without Kylian. He woke up this morning and felt noticeably unwell.
The medical team performed a few tests and the verdict came quickly and clearly: illness. He did not train with the rest of the team. It is the headline – on the eve of their debut. He is not excluded for the match against Al Hilal, but he is a serious doubt.
His availability depends on how he progresses – on how he feels. He will rest today and tomorrow a decision will be made. If he does make it, he would of course start. In fact, from now on the plan to play him next to Vinicius in advance was a system in the vicinity of a 4-4-2. Although, in modern football, rigid formations are almost outdated.
At this point in the afternoon is the most likely scenario that he makes the team but starts on the couch. But it is all due to likely and feelings. Nothing is excluded: he does not start, and not that he is completely omitted.
Kylian is naturally a vital player – and even more given the lack of available attackers. Endrick is out, which means that Xabi has no other real striker in the first team. He would only be left with “improvised options” … or Gonzalo.