" Mbappe is fine. The possibility of him playing is very high. We will decide tomorrow morning. The possibility of him having his first match at this year's FIFA Club World Cup is huge.
I don't know how long Mbappe will play, but this possibility is very high," coach Xabi Alonso shared at a press conference before the match between Real Madrid and Juventus in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
The French striker has recovered from a severe gastroenteritis that caused him to lose up to 5kg and forced him to miss all three of Real Madrid's group stage matches.
Although he has not played a single minute in the tournament, Mbappe is still the name with the highest expectations. In coach Alonso's squad, he is not only the explosive on the field but also the spiritual leader in the dressing room.
The coach said: " Mbappe don't need anyone to dribble the ball away. The important thing is that he get in the rhythm of the whole team, playing in a unified system."
Real Madrid entered the knockout round after a not-so-smooth group stage journey. They drew 1-1 with Al Hilal, won 3-1 with Pachuca and won 3-0 against RB Salzburg. For Alonso, the match against Juventus is meaningful as the real start to a new journey at the Bernabeu.
"We only have a few weeks of working together but we have to be ready for the next match. This is a match where mistakes are not allowed," said the head coach of Real Madrid.
Good news for Real is the return of captain Dani Carvajal after a long-term ligament injury. In addition, newcomers such as Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold have gradually integrated, giving Alonso more options to rotate between the three and four defenders' formation - which has been effective in the final round of the group stage.
The match between Real Madrid and Juventus will take place at 02:00 on July 2.
