Real Madrid endured a tense day on Thursday. Kylian Mbappé, the team’s biggest star, set off alarm bells after being rushed to the hospital in Florida with a severe case of gastroenteritis. As the minutes ticked by, concern grew — but finally, in the afternoon, the club was able to announce the French star’s medical discharge, bringing relief to the squad.

Under careful watch, training apart

Although the worst seems to be over, Mbappé remains under special care. The striker has been kept isolated, doing light training at the team’s hotel and will also miss the scheduled afternoon session. It’s clear that the staff doesn’t want to take any unnecessary risks with their star man.

What continues to fuel uncertainty for Madrid is whether Kiki will be available for Sunday’s match against Pachuca at the Club World Cup. At this point, it looks unlikely that Mbappé will take the field at the Bank of America Stadium — a worrying prospect for Madridistas.

Xabi’s era: between criticism and the need for Mbappé

The potential absence of Mbappé is yet another challenge for Xabi Alonso, who is trying to steady the ship and strengthen his project at Madrid. In the last match, it was Gonzalo García who seized the opportunity, scoring against Al-Hilal and leaving a good impression as a possible stand-in. Now the coach must decide whether to trust the youngster again or reshuffle his pieces.

The start of Xabi Alonso’s tenure at Madrid hasn’t been without its critics. Results and style have sparked debate — and having a fully fit Mbappé would be the perfect antidote to calm things down and rebuild confidence in the project.