Real Madrid take RISKY Mbappe decision
Real Madrid are primed to take a gamble over Kylian Mbappe, despite the former PSG striker suffering a midweek injury against Atalanta.
Mbappe has been at the centre of attention at the Bernabeu since leaving Paris as a free agent in the summer, with much of it negative.
His performance levels have been criticised, but against the Serie A side he seemed to be taking steps to silence his doubters as he scored a well-taken opening goal.
Before the first half was out, though, Mbappe was forced off with a hamstring issue that head coach Carlo Ancelotti played down the severity of.
Real Madrid have suffered a string of injury problems this season, but any thoughts that they might wrap Mbappe up in cottonwool for the Intercontinental Cup have been brushed aside, with AS reporting that the France international star will travel with the team to Qatar and is even set to be given minutes.
Mbappe was never ruled out of the competition, yet when he went down injured against Atalanta it seemed improbable that he would play.
This is a situation that echoes back to September, when the attacker suffered a problem against Alaves but returned after six days when it was expected he would miss three weeks.
A healthy state of affairs?
Questions should be asked about the long-term impact that this might have on the 25-year-old attacker, particularly given Real Madrid’s wretched record with injuries this season.
After making a strong start at Los Blancos, he did not bounce back from that injury against Alaves quickly and instead descended into one of the worst slumps of his career, with critics suggesting that he looked jaded.
He was even left out of the France squad in November by the choice of head coach Didier Deschamps in what was undoubtedly a low point of his career.
After the Intercontinental Cup clash, which will see Real Madrid play Pachuca or Al Ahly, Los Blancos will then face Sevilla at the Bernabeu before a week break over the festive period.