‘We hope he's back soon': Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso still unsure on Kylian Mbappe's availability for Club World Cup
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso is still not confident about star forward Kylian Mbappe's availability in the ongoing Club World Cup. Mbappe, who was hospitalized last week with acute gastroenteritis, hasn't taken part in any of the group games Real played in the tournament, the latest being a 3-0 win vs RB Salzburg.
'I don't want to be optimistic and get ahead of myself, but we need him because he's a top player, one of the best in the world. We hope he's back soon,' Alonso said when asked about Mbappé's availability for the round of 16 game against Juventus on Tuesday.
'We need him and we want him back as soon as possible and in the best possible condition,' Alonso added. The 26-year-old Mbappe was Madrid's top scorer last season, with 43 goals in 56 appearances. He had been following specific medical treatment to recover from gastroenteritis, Madrid said, but has missed two games since being discharged from hospital.
Mbappe has also been in the news for other reasons lately with the French star has filing a complaint against former employers Paris Saint-Germain accusing the French team of 'moral harassment' during the final season of his stay at the club.
The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed on Thursday that the forward had stated in his complaint that he was 'lofted' by the club after he refused to sign a contract extension before the 2023-24 season. In France, lofting means isolating a player from the main squad for sporting, administrative, or disciplinary reasons.
The Ligue 1 club reportedly sidelined the France captain once he refused to extend his contract. The striker was left off a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and forced to train with fringe players.
Mbappe and PSG are in a dispute for a sum of 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages, which Mbappe, currently playing for Real Madrid, claims he is owed by the French heavyweight club.
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