Why Kylian Mbappe missed Real Madrid training amid red card suspension as attacker faces race against time to be fit for Copa del Rey final showdown with Barcelona

Mbappe’s fitness has become a cause for concern at Real Madrid as the French star nurses an ankle injury. During Real Madrid’s last outing, he was forced off the pitch in the 75th minute after an awkward fall following a challenge involving Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice. While Rice came away unharmed from the collision and was awarded a free kick, Mbappe was not so fortunate. The 25-year-old forward appeared in severe discomfort and was replaced by Brahim Diaz.

As reported by The Athletic, Mbappe has yet to rejoin group training sessions with his teammates ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Athletic Bilbao. Medical staff are monitoring the situation closely, with the forward’s ankle still visibly swollen. Although the club remains hopeful that he can recover in time for the Copa del Rey final in Seville, the timeline for his return is uncertain and depends heavily on how the injury responds to rest and treatment in the coming days.

Mbappe is not the only absentee from the Madrid camp. Several key players are also sidelined due to various fitness issues, including Ferland Mendy, Andriy Lunin, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao, as they recover from their respective injuries.

Mbappe’s injury coincides with a suspension resulting from a red card received during Madrid’s victory over Alaves. As a result, he is already set to miss the club’s upcoming home match against Athletic Club. However, the French star has only been handed a one-match ban, meaning he could return for the following league fixture against Getafe on Wednesday - if he is medically cleared in time.