Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe will not be part of the squad for Thursday’s Club World Cup match against Red Bull Salzburg, despite recently returning to training.
Mbappe had been sidelined with an illness and missed the Spanish team’s first two games in the tournament. He was hospitalized last Thursday due to gastroenteritis but has since recovered and returned to training on Wednesday.
Although Real Madrid shared photos of Mbappe training with the team in Florida, head coach Xabi Alonso left him out of the 23-man squad traveling to Philadelphia for their final Group H match.
Madrid drew 1-1 with Al-Hilal in their first game and beat Pachuca 3-1 last weekend. They need a win or a draw against Salzburg to move on to the last 16. Topping the group could set up a clash with either Manchester City or Juventus.
Speaking after the win over Pachuca, Alonso had said Mbappe was “doing better” and “recovering well.” But it appears the coaching staff decided not to rush him back.
Mbappe joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain last year and has scored 43 goals in 56 matches. His last appearance was for France in a 2-0 win over Germany on June 8 in the UEFA Nations League.
