FIFACWC: Bad and good news for Real Madrid fans as Mbappe is hospitalised but Rudiger is back for the next game

After he missed the FIFA Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal on Wednesday night, Real Madrid megastar Kylian Mbappe has been hospitalised due to gastroenteritis, the club has officially confirmed.

“Our player Kylian Mbappe has acute gastroenteritis and has been hospitalised for various tests and treatment,” the statement from the club read.

Mbappe, who has been Real Madrid’s top goalscorer this season, did not train with the rest of the squad on Tuesday due to an illness.

It was believed that the Frenchman was down with a fever, which had stopped him from training and eventually ruled him out of the Group H game against Al-Hilal.

Now, though, Real Madrid have confirmed that the forward has a case of acute gastroenteritis as a result of which he has been hospitalised for tests and treatment.

With Real Madrid set to play Pachuca later this weekend, it remains to be seen whether their ace goalscorer recovers in time for the game.

If not, Xabi Alonso is likely to start with Gonzalo Garcia as the centre-forward again after the youngster scored the team’s only goal in the 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal.

But there is some good news on the horizon as MARCA reports that Rudiger is all set to return for Real Madrid’s next game against Pachuca.

The Merengues are set to take on the Mexican outfit in their second Group H game of the Club World Cup on Sunday night. And the belief is that Rudiger will be fit and ready to play in time for that game.

The 32-year-old German international had been dealing with a knee issue for a good part of the last year but had been playing through the pain barrier.

However, after the Copa del Rey final defeat, when he was handed an extended ban, Rudiger and Real Madrid decided for him to undergo surgery to address the problem.

Manager Alonso spoke about the defender’s situation before the Al-Hilal game, saying:

“Rudiger made a tremendous recovery; he’s the first. the idea is that he’ll probably be in the second game. The others need a little more time.”

Now, everything points towards Rudiger making his comeback for Real Madrid in the next game against Pachuca.

It is, however, unlikely that he will be thrown into the starting lineup right away, with Alonso expected to ease the veteran central defender back into action.