27 hours ahead of their debut in the Club World Cup, Mbappé has missed Real Madrid training. It’s the big news from The Gardens North County District Park, where Xabi Alonso is tightening the screws on the squad. Today, though, without Kylian. He woke up this morning feeling noticeably unwell.

The medical team ran some tests, and the verdict came quickly and clearly: illness. He didn’t train with the rest of the team. It’s the headline absence — on the eve of their debut. He hasn’t been ruled out for the match against Al Hilal, but he’s a serious doubt.

His availability depends on how he progresses — on how he feels. He’ll rest today, and a decision will be made tomorrow. If he does make it, he was set to start, of course. In fact, the plan as of now was to play him up front alongside Vinicius, leading a system close to a 4-4-2. Although, in modern football, rigid formations are almost obsolete.

At this point in the afternoon, the most likely scenario is that he makes the squad but starts on the bench. But it’s all down to probabilities — and feelings. Nothing is ruled out: not him starting, and not him being left out entirely.

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Kylian is naturally a vital player — and even more so given the lack of available forwards. Endrick is out, which means Xabi has no other true striker in the first team. He’d only be left with “makeshift options”... or Gonzalo.

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