By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso says the club is trying to get injured superstar Kylian Mbappe back as quickly as possible before travelling to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mbappé — who is LaLiga’s top scorer with 18 goals this season — did not train on Wednesday, despite having taken part in Tuesday’s open training session with fans.
The injury is the same knee problem which has troubled the France international in recent weeks.
“Following tests carried out today by Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Kylian Mbappé, he has been diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee,” Madrid said in a brief statement on Wednesday. “His progress will be monitored.”
“We’ll try to make it happen quickly, it depends a lot on how he feels, but we’ll try to get him back as quickly as possible,” Alonso told a news conference.
“When is as soon as possible? That’s the question. I don’t know.”
“He played some very good games at the end of the year… we need him, like everyone else,” said Alonso.
“To make up for Kylian’s absence we have different options, and Rodrygo is one of them.”
Madrid host Betis on Sunday at the Bernabéu in their first game of 2026, before travelling to Jeddah, for the Supercopa.
They will play a derby with Atlético Madrid in their semifinal on Jan. 8, before a possible final against Barcelona or Athletic Club on Jan. 11.