Xabi Alonso Evaluates Kylian Mbappé’s Participation in Supercopa Final

Xabi Alonso has indicated that Real Madrid will carefully “assess the risk” of featuring Kylian Mbappé in Sunday’s Supercopa final against Barcelona, as the forward aims to recover from a knee sprain.

Mbappé traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to join his teammates on Friday after remaining in Madrid to continue his rehabilitation. He missed Thursday’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Atletico Madrid due to his injury, which has troubled him for several weeks. Despite this setback, the French international has made a significant impact this season, scoring 29 goals in all competitions.

“He’s much better,” Alonso stated at a news conference on Saturday. “The initial assessment suggested it would be challenging for Mbappé to play against Atlético, so we opted not to rush his return. However, if we reach the final and he feels fit, he will be considered for selection. After today’s training session, we will have the necessary information to decide whether he is ready to start or if he will play a limited role.”

When questioned about the possibility of administering a pain-killing injection to facilitate Mbappé’s participation in the final—an event that marks the first trophy opportunity of the Spanish season—Alonso responded, “We have to assess the risk. We understand the stakes involved and must take responsibility for our choices. We’re not reckless; it’s a controlled risk.”

Earlier this season, Madrid triumphed over Barcelona 2-1 in their first Clásico, having lost all four encounters during the 2024-25 campaign.

In the semifinal match, Madrid faced challenges in defense, as center-backs Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio were both substituted due to discomfort. Alonso remarked, “The defense is improving. We will train this afternoon and make an informed decision. There is some instability in defense, but certain players are stepping up their efforts to address this issue.”

In another development, Vinícius Júnior has attracted attention this week following a confrontation with Atletico coach Diego Simeone during Thursday’s clash. The Brazilian forward has not found the net in his last 16 matches.

Addressing queries about managing Vinícius, Alonso commented, “Every player is unique. It’s essential to be tactful in handling him. Vini is emotional, and it’s important to provide support. Both his teammates and the coaching staff are ensuring he remains focused. With the right timing, he will return to form and be a decisive player for us.”