Xabi Alonso Discusses Kylian Mbappé’s Injury and Madrid’s Future Plans

omidbasir- Xabi Alonso has acknowledged that he is uncertain about the timeline for Kylian Mbappé’s return to Real Madrid, emphasizing that the club is dedicated to having the star forward back from injury as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, Madrid confirmed that Mbappé has sustained a sprain in his left knee. According to sources cited by ESPN, the French international is set to miss the upcoming LaLiga match against Real Betis and remains a significant doubt for next week’s Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia.

This season, Mbappé has netted 29 goals across all competitions for Madrid. However, he has been plagued by discomfort lately, having missed the Champions League match against Manchester City in December. He managed to return for the team’s last three matches of the year.

“We are going to work diligently to minimize the duration of his absence,” Alonso stated at a news conference on Saturday prior to the Betis match. “It ultimately comes down to how he feels. We will make every effort to have him back as soon as possible. But when will that be? That’s the pressing question, and I don’t have the answer.”

Prior to his injury, Mbappé had participated in all 18 of Madrid’s LaLiga fixtures this season, scoring 18 goals. In his final match of 2025, he equaled Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year by scoring in Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Sevilla.

Real Madrid is set to face Atlético Madrid in the Supercopa semifinal in Jeddah next Thursday, with a potential final scheduled for the following Sunday.

“We evaluate each game based on the player’s condition and the needs of the match,” Alonso remarked. “We will do everything we can to facilitate his return at the earliest opportunity.”

Alonso also dismissed the notion that it was challenging to advise a player like Mbappé to take a break. “No, it is straightforward to manage players who are eager to contribute to the team. It is my responsibility to make decisions, and I fully accept that,” he clarified.

Madrid navigated the previous summer’s Club World Cup effectively without Mbappé, with young forward Gonzalo García, 21, stepping in admirably.

“We had a flexible approach with the players available to us,” Alonso noted. “We must find the optimal way to integrate our team members. We will certainly miss Mbappé—not just for his goals but for the influence he exerts on the pitch.”

Alonso added that Madrid would remain vigilant in the January transfer market as they aim to enhance their squad following an inconsistent first half of the season. “It is our responsibility to always be on the lookout for opportunities to improve, should they arise. However, we are content with our current squad.”