While no one quite knows what’s up with Kylian Mbappe, the latest update will cause concern for Manchester City.
Real Madrid previously said the expected their French top scorer to return for the first-leg of the Champions League last 16 tie, while his camp briefed that was overly-ambitious by a long shot.
Mbappe missed the first-leg at the Bernabeu, but he wasn’t needed anyway as Fede Valverde was the whole show with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side secured the victory without a number of key players, including Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo.
Such an injury list will give City some hope for the second-leg, but that’s until they hear the Mbappe latest.
“I want him to be able to go to Manchester; we’ll see how he feels,” Arbeloa said.
“We’ll make a decision on Sunday. He’s getting better every day; his progress is exactly what we expected.
“We’ve made a plan, it all depends on how he develops, but I see him doing very well.
“He won’t be there tomorrow [against Elche], but I’m confident he’ll travel to Manchester. I hope he can be there, then we’ll see about France.”
Arbeloa also gets into politics
Speaking at another point during his press conference, Arbeloa targeted Joan Laporta who is trying to get re-elected at Barcelona.
Asked about his campaign, he responded: “Yes, candidate Laporta… I think it was he who quadrupled the payments to Negreira.
“There’s not much more to it.”
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