Kylian Mbappe: Real Madrid Notified Of His Return

Real Madrid fans have another reason to smile as Kylian Mbappe inches closer to his much-awaited debut at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. After sitting out the group stage due to illness, the French star made a lively appearance in training on Monday, June 30, at The Gardens North County District Park, offering a huge boost ahead of Madrid’s round-of-16 clash against Juventus at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on July 1.

It has been a frustrating wait for both the player and the club. Mbappe missed the first three matches of the tournament while recovering from a nasty case of stomach flu. The club confirmed he was hospitalized on June 19 and treated for acute gastroenteritis. Since then, he’s been in recovery, gradually building back fitness, and now, at long last, seems ready to play.

Journalists and fans watching the training session could not help but notice the difference in Mbappe’s demeanor. He looked sharp and full of energy during the portion of practice open to the media. He did not appear to be holding back physically. For a squad that’s already found its rhythm under new Manager Xabi Alonso, adding a fit and firing the Frenchman might be just the push they need.

Mbappe’s Return Could Change Everything

Coach Xabi Alonso has not given a definitive answer just yet about whether Mbappe will feature against Juventus, but all signs point in a positive direction. At a press conference later in the day, Alonso admitted the forward was “feeling better” and that a final decision would be made on matchday morning. Still, judging by how training was and the way his teammates reacted, it seems Madrid is preparing for his inclusion.

Even without Mbappe, Real Madrid handled their business well during the group stage. They opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal, who are flying high at the moment, and just knocked out favorites Manchester City. Madrid followed that by a 3-1 win over Mexican side Pachuca on June 22, and then cruised to a 3-0 victory against Red Bull Salzburg on June 26. That unbeaten run secured top spot in their group and gave them some breathing room ahead of the knockout phase.

But they are not the confirmed favorites, at least not yet. According to BetMGM, Paris Saint-Germain leads the way with +275 odds to win the tournament, while Madrid and Bayern Munich sit behind them at +550. Those odds reflect recent form and the firepower that other squads have shown, but things could shift fast with Mbappé’s return.

Juventus Up Next

Real Madrid’s next challenge comes in the form of a Juventus side that finished second in their group behind Manchester City. The Italian giants were thrashed 5-2 by City on June 26 but bounced back with dominant group-stage wins over Al Ain (5-0 on June 18) and Wydad AC (4-1 on June 22). Juventus has both youth and bite in midfield, and Madrid won’t be taking them lightly.

Interestingly, one of the players likely to be lining up alongside Mbappe is Dean Huijsen. A 21-year-old defender who came up through Juventus’ youth ranks and joined Madrid this summer after a stint with Bournemouth in the Premier League. He spoke briefly ahead of the clash, saying, “As we always do, we’re working hard and I think we’re ready for the game. Hopefully, it’ll be a good one.” It’s a simple statement, but it echoes the quiet confidence growing inside the Madrid camp.

Another potential boost for Alonso’s squad could come from veteran full-back Dani Carvajal. The Spain international, who helped his country lift the European Championship just a year ago, is making steady progress in his recovery from multiple knee injuries that required surgery back in October. He has not featured yet in this tournament, but like Mbappe, he’s getting closer. “If you had asked me a month and a half ago, I would’ve said I didn’t see myself here. But now? Now I do,” Carvajal admitted. It’s the kind of mindset that can rally a team, especially in high-stakes games like this one.

Watching and Waiting

While Madrid fans anxiously await final confirmation on Mbappe’s status, it is clear the team has been studying their potential opponents. “We can see the rooms in the hotel, in the common room, and also there in the tents,” Carvajal said, smiling. “We need to see the other teams, analyze them a little.”

Madrid is always considered a contender, and even though they’re not front-runners this time, no team ever takes them lightly. With the Frenchman potentially back and players like Carvajal regaining form, Real Madrid’s knockout ambitions are heating up fast.

Hard Rock Stadium will be the stage on Tuesday, July 1, at 3 p.m. ET. If the former PSG man is cleared to play, it will be the first time he pulls on the famous white shirt in this tournament and possibly the first step toward silverware with his new club. For now, the green light on Mbappe’s return is flickering. And if he’s anything like the player we saw in training, Real Madrid might just be about to explode into life at the Club World Cup.