Real Madrid might be without star striker Kylian Mbappé for their Club World Cup debut against Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, as the French international missed training due to illness.
New head coach Xabi Alonso is set to make his coaching debut for Real Madrid in the Group H match at Hard Rock Stadium, and he could also be missing several other key players.
Defender Antonio Rüdiger and versatile midfielder Eduardo Camavinga are also considered unlikely to feature against the Saudi team.
Coach Alonso provided an update on Mbappé’s condition: “Kylian was feeling a little better this morning, but not enough. It’s very hot, and it was better that he didn’t train. But we will wait until the last moment. Tomorrow morning we will decide.”
Regarding other potential absences, he added, “Rüdiger made a brutal effort this season, and I don’t know if he will be called up tomorrow, but he is progressing well and will be the first to return.” Camavinga is also improving quickly, but he needs time.”
Al Hilal will also have a new coach, with Italian Simone Inzaghi joining the team after leading Inter Milan to the Champions League final.
Alonso admitted that this coaching change makes it difficult to predict what to expect from Wednesday’s opponents. “We have to prepare for the game in the best possible way. They will be a tough opponent, without a doubt. But it’s time to focus on ourselves. They haven’t made their debut with Inzaghi yet, so we don’t know how they will play,” Alonso stated.
He emphasised the need for his team to display hunger and a collective spirit: “We have to have hunger to win, to compete, to want to play well. We have to mix a lot of things, but that self-love, that feeling of team, that defending the badge… The team already has it, but we have to work on it. We must be a team.”
Alonso also commented on the competition for the right-back position between Dani Carvajal and new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, calling it a “privilege to have such top players.”
He noted Alexander-Arnold’s flexibility and impressive initial impact. The coach expressed optimism about his squad generally, suggesting that England’s Jude Bellingham might be more effective in a central midfield role.
“Jude can cover a lot of the pitch. He has the soul of a midfielder; he likes to participate, but he has the great quality to arrive. The important thing is the starting point. Finding him in the right places is going to help us because he has impressive qualities,” Alonso explained.
He also looked forward to his brief time working with veteran Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić before the 39-year-old departs the club, describing their relationship as “great” and Modrić as a “very good influence” on younger players.
