By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Real Madrid have confirmed Kylian Mbappe has been hospitalised with illness after he missed the Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal.
Mbappe, 26, missed training on Tuesday with a fever and did not play in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against the Saudi Arabian side.
A Real statement on Thursday said Mbappe has “an acute case of gastroenteritis” and was admitted to hospital for “a series of tests”.
Gastroenteritis is an infection in the gut which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
Real’s next game is against Pachuca on Sunday at 20:00 BST. There is no indication whether Mbappe could be available for the game.
Madrid’s manager, Xabi Alonso, had said after the Al-Hilal game that Mbappé had experienced “significant viral issues” and that the forward would be assessed before the next match, on Sunday, against Pachuca. Madrid face RB Salzburg in their final group fixture next Friday.
Mbappe scored 43 goals in 56 games in all competitions for Real in his first season after joining on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain.