Real Madrid Eyes Mbappé Return Against Juventus in Club World Cup

Real Madrid, under new coach Xabi Alonso, is entering the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup with a crucial round of 16 match against Juventus. Kylian Mbappé, who missed the group stage due to acute gastroenteritis, is likely to make his tournament debut as a substitute to manage his fitness, with Alonso and Mbappé agreeing on a gradual reintegration into the team. The team has shown promising adaptation to Alonso's system, and players like Gonzalo García have emerged as notable contributors during Mbappé's absence. However, Alonso faces management challenges with star players Mbappé and Vinicius Junior, whose dynamic play styles and defensive commitments have raised concerns from analysts like Jürgen Klinsmann about maintaining team cohesion. Despite these challenges, Alonso remains optimistic about balancing the personalities and talents to achieve success. The Club World Cup represents a significant test for Alonso's leadership, with Real Madrid positioned against strong opponents and aiming to assert themselves as title contenders.