Xabi opens up on Mbappe’s return

MADRID:

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso admitted Saturday that he does not know how long injured superstar Kylian Mbappe will be sidelined for.

The French striker was diagnosed with a knee strain on Wednesday, expected to keep him out for at least three weeks.

“We’ll try to make it happen quickly, it depends a lot on how he feels, but we’ll try to get him back as quickly as possible,” Alonso told a news conference.

“When is as soon as possible? That’s the question. I don’t know.”

The coach said he hopes Mbappe will be back to take part in the Spanish Super Cup, with Los Blancos facing rivals Atletico Madrid in the semi-final on January 8.

Mbappe, 27, is Madrid’s top goalscorer with 29 goals this season across all competitions in 24 appearances.

Alonso will be without the striker for Sunday’s La Liga clash against Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid trail leaders Barcelona by four points, with the Catalans visiting city rivals Espanyol on Saturday.

Alonso came under heavy pressure in December amid Madrid’s inconsistent form, with his future still on the line in the weeks ahead.

One bright spot was Brazilian forward Rodrygo Goes bursting into form towards the end of 2025, and Alonso wants him to continue in the same vein.

“He played some very good games at the end of the year… we need him, like everyone else,” said Alonso.

“To make up for Kylian’s absence we have different options, and Rodrygo is one of them.”

Mbappe has enjoyed a stellar 2025, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record 59 goals in a calendar year, and has at times carried Real Madrid, relieving some pressure on under-fire coach Xabi Alonso.

He has scored 73 goals in 83 matches for Real since making a free transfer move to the Spanish giants from Paris Saint-Germain 18 months ago.

He finished top scorer in La Liga last season with 31 goals — four more than Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski — and is currently seven goals clear of the next best this season, Barca’s Ferran Torres.