Xabi Alonso Unsure On Kylian Mbappe Timeline; Real Madrid Hold Their Breath

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has admitted there is no clear timeline for Kylian Mbappe’s return from injury, as the club anxiously monitors the fitness of their talismanic forward.

Mbappe, Madrid’s leading scorer this season, was diagnosed with a knee strain on Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks. However, Alonso made it clear that the French superstar’s comeback will depend largely on how he responds to treatment.

“We’ll try to make it happen quickly. It depends a lot on how he feels,” Alonso said on Saturday. “When is as soon as possible? That’s the question. I don’t know.”

The 27-year-old will definitely miss Sunday’s La Liga clash against Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu, a significant blow with Madrid

already trailing leaders Barcelona by four points.

Despite the uncertainty, Madrid are hopeful Mbappe could return in time for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid on January 8. “The Super Cup? We hope,” Alonso said, underlining the cautious optimism within the camp.

Mbappe has been central to Madrid’s season, scoring 29 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions. He recently equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year, highlighting just how influential his absence could be.

Alonso, who faced mounting pressure in December amid inconsistent results, acknowledged that replacing Mbappe will require a collective effort. One positive has been the resurgence of Rodrygo Goes, who impressed towards the end of 2025.

“He played some very good games at the end of the year,” Alonso said. “We need him, like everyone else. To make up for Kylian’s absence, we have different options, and Rodrygo is one of them.”

Madrid’s dip in form has also coincided with a worrying drought for Vinicius Jr., who has scored just five goals this season and has not found the net since October. Alonso played down concerns after the Brazilian winger was booed by some fans against Sevilla.

“Vini looks fine to me — cheerful and smiling,” Alonso said. “The break has been good for all of us. Now we have to give energy to get energy back.”