Real Madrid's Mbappe Expected Return Against Juventus in Club World Cup Knockouts

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, who has been sidelined with acute gastroenteritis and hospitalized, is expected to return to play in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup against Juventus. Despite rejoining training and showing satisfactory progress, manager Xabi Alonso and the club have prioritized Mbappe's full recovery, opting not to rush his return during the group stage matches, including the recent game against Salzburg. Alonso has expressed cautious optimism about Mbappe's availability for the knockout rounds and emphasized the player's importance to the team. Meanwhile, fellow Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has been praised for his key role in midfield during Mbappe's absence. The team aims to have Mbappe back in top condition to make a significant impact as they advance in the tournament. Overall, Real Madrid is managing Mbappe's comeback carefully to ensure his health and performance are optimized for critical upcoming matches.