Real Madrid jolt as Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde skip training before Copa del Rey

Real Madrid were hit with a jolt this morning as Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde did not take part in first-team training at Valdebebas. The timing is awkward, coming right after a bruising league win over Alavés and just before a Copa del Rey tie. Inside the camp, the line is typically guarded - recovery management, gym work, nothing to see. Outside the gates, the noise is different. Fans suspect both played through pain against Alavés. Either way, Madrid face a selection puzzle. Expect rotations, and yes, the Endrick drumbeat just got louder.

Early-morning reports from Madrid-focused outlets indicated that Mbappé and Valverde were absent from the main group session at Valdebebas the day after the Alavés match and ahead of a Copa del Rey fixture. The club has not issued an official medical note, and no suspension has been announced. Observers on site described a reduced headcount in the forward and midfield units, with several starters seemingly on recovery protocols.

🚨 JUST IN: Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde are NOT training.

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

If both Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde are managed off the grass, Real Madrid’s balance tilts immediately. Mbappé’s vertical threat pins back backlines, creating lanes for Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo. Without him, Madrid lose the instant acceleration that turns 50-50 phases into broken-field sprints. It forces more structured possession, shifting the burden to Brahim Díaz between lines or a classic 9 profile to occupy center backs.

Valverde is the metronome with a motor. His two-way coverage seals transition leaks and gives Dani Carvajal license to overlap. Remove Valverde, and Madrid’s right-sided press loses bite, while the rest-defense box around Aurélien Tchouaméni stretches thinner. The data point is simple enough even without spreadsheets - when Valverde misses, Madrid concede more territory between the lines and accept more crosses under pressure.

Tactically, the short-term patchwork is clear. Endrick offers direct running and box presence if Mbappé sits, with Vinícius Jr. driving the left channel and Rodrygo toggling wide-to-central. In midfield, Eduardo Camavinga can shuttle, though his instincts pull him to ball-winning rather than the off-ball sprints that Valverde repeats for 90 minutes. The Copa del Rey invites rotation, but the calendar stacks quickly. Manage this poorly, and micro-knocks roll into multi-week absences. That is the thin line Madrid now walks.

Reaction

The fanbase split fast. Some pointed at photos of an earlier segment and asked why there was any panic if the pair appeared on the pitch at some stage. Others insisted both pushed through discomfort against Alavés, citing touchline gestures and a couple of grimaces from Mbappé late on. One supporter summed up the mood: heart rates from 60 to 180 in seconds, half-joking that Antonio Pintus had them on a secret marathon. The anxiety reads real.

There’s also anger at perceived risk management. A handful blamed the staff for letting star names play through knocks, with one fan shouting that the coach rolled the dice last game. Pragmatists chimed in that neither should play a minute in the Copa del Rey, that the bench is deep enough, and this is why Endrick was signed. The final thread is uncertainty - is this rest or injury? The club’s silence is feeding both narratives. In short, Madridistas are nervous, rivals are snickering, and neutral watchers see a classic early-winter workload warning.

Social reactions

Hopefully, they're just resting up for tomorrow's crucial match.

𝔍𝔬𝔰𝔥 (@josh_bw1)

Hopefully, they'll be back soon!

Maximalist (@prolifeai)

Surely Endrick starts

Mogombi (@Mogombi)

Prediction

Three clear scenarios sit on the table. First, the benign one: controlled recovery. Mbappé and Valverde stay inside for gym and physio, skip the Copa del Rey, then rejoin the main group by week’s end. If that happens, Endrick starts, Vinícius and Rodrygo shoulder chance creation, and Bellingham operates closer to goal. Madrid progress, headlines calm, and the league campaign stays on script.

Second, the nagging-knock route. If either player has low-grade muscular fatigue, the staff will space out minutes through the next two matches. Expect managed cameos and tactical tweaks - Brahim between lines, Camavinga as the right-sided runner, and more conservative fullback positioning to protect transitions. It keeps results steady but trims the ceiling.

Third, the dark corner: a hamstring or adductor flare that demands a full reset. That would push Madrid to lean on Endrick sooner, with Joselu-style reference play patterns reintroduced to stabilize the attack. The midfield would rotate around Tchouaméni, Modrić, and Camavinga, prioritizing control over chaos. From a rival lens, this is the opening the league has been waiting for. From Madrid’s side, tight communication and ruthless workload management are non-negotiable over the next 10 days.

Latest today

• Dani Ceballos misses Real Madrid training with gastric virus as doubts grow over availabil...
• Antonio Rüdiger misses Real Madrid training, questions rise before next fixture
• Bruno Fernandes says Man United wanted him to go in summer - captain stayed for love of th...
• CTA to review Vinícius non-penalty vs Alavés - why the no-call was correct

Conclusion

Strip the noise and you see a familiar modern reality. Elite players carry heavy loads, and elite clubs live or die by how they manage red zones. Mbappé and Valverde are not just names on a teamsheet - they are structural pieces. Mbappé bends defensive lines with pace and timing. Valverde stitches phases together with lung-busting coverage and clean decision-making. When either steps aside, the system reshapes.

From what we know now, the smartest path is simple. Remove risk from the Copa del Rey, empower Endrick with a proper start, and let the engine room breathe. Madrid have built a squad for precisely this sort of week. As ever, the conversation will rage until an official update lands, but the blueprint for damage control is straightforward. If Madrid follow it, this becomes a 48-hour wobble. If they force it, they invite a three-week problem. The ball, for once, is not at their feet - it’s in the medical room.