Real Madrid have made a call on the fitness of Kylian Mbappe after the forward’s physique changed dramatically when he was hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis.
The Frenchman has lost four or five kilos, according to Marca, and his usual weight hovers around the 75kg mark.
Pictures of him training in the gym having come out of hospital show just how significant a change to his body there has been.
Madrid take on RB Salzburg of Austria in the early hours of Friday morning as they bid to confirm qualification for the knockout stages of the Club World Cup.
Xabi Alonso’s side have four points from two games so far, beating Pachuca but drawing with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal. If they lose later this week, they could find themselves eliminated if Al-Hilal also win their match.
They will, meanwhile, have to try and claim victory without key man Mbappe. The 26-year-old has been left out of Los Blancos’ squad for the game, just as he has been for the rest of the tournament so far.
Mbappe’s usually muscular arms and legs in particular looked incredibly lean following the serious bout of stomach flu he suffered with.
Acute gastroentiritis usually manifests with vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain – leading to dehydration.
Mbappe was affected by the issue just hours after arriving with the team in Palm Beach for the Club World Cup.
Madrid released a statement last Thursday in which they clarified why Mbappe was absent.
The club said that he had been taken to hospital on the day of their match against Al-Hilal to undergo tests, adding that he had made a return to the team’s camp.
On Friday, Real also confirmed that Mbappe was in the team hotel and undertaking aerobic work as he recovered from illness.
When prompted to give an update on Mbappe’s health on Tuesday, Alonso said: ‘Kylian was feeling a bit better in the morning, but not good enough because it’s too hot. We’re going to wait for him until the last moment, we’ll decide tomorrow.’
In Mbappe’s place, Alonso opted to start 21-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia who scored 25 goals in 36 matches for Real Madrid Castilla last season.
