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By Oscar Okhifo
Real Madrid’s star forward, Kylian Mbappé, has been hospitalised after falling ill with acute gastroenteritis, raising fresh doubts over his availability for the club’s next Club World Cup fixture.
The French international, who joined Madrid in a high-profile move last year, was admitted to a Miami hospital on Wednesday after experiencing severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever, which intensified over the past 48 hours.
The illness forced him to miss Real Madrid’s opening Group B match against Al-Hilal on Tuesday, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
In a brief statement, Real Madrid confirmed that Mbappé is undergoing medical treatment and tests, and is being closely monitored by doctors. The club added that while his condition is stable, his participation in Sunday’s crucial clash against Pachuca in Charlotte is uncertain.
Mbappé’s absence comes at a delicate moment for Madrid, who are keen to making a strong statement in the tournament under new coach Xabi Alonso.
The striker has been very instrumental for the Spanish giants this season, scoring an impressive 43 goals in 56 appearances and securing the La Liga Golden Boot.
Complicating matters further, the Club World Cup has been plagued by extreme weather conditions in the United States, with soaring temperatures and thunderstorms disrupting schedules.
Tournament organisers have already implemented cooling breaks and adjusted kickoff times to protect players’ welfare.
Mbappé’s illness has dim Madrid’s title hopes and has crashed the mood of fans who were eager to see the French star dazzle on the global stage once again.
Real Madrid says there will be further updates as Mbappé continues to receive treatment. From the sports desk of Pointblanknews.com, we wish the football maestro quick recovering