As Real Madrid prepare in Jeddah ahead of the Spanish Super Cup final, the spotlight quickly shifted to Kylian Mbappé’s presence with the squad and what it could mean for Sunday’s El Clásico.
The French forward completed his recovery work in Madrid before travelling and is now training with the team, a development that has heightened anticipation and anxiety in equal measure.
With Barcelona full of confidence after recent performances, as highlighted by SoftFootball’s build-up to the final, the stakes around Mbappé’s fitness have become a central talking point. The uncertainty surrounding whether Mbappé should start has dominated online conversations.
While Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has stressed caution and insists the forward’s chances are no different from any other available player, fans are weighing the short-term glory of a Super Cup against the long-term risk with the 2026 World Cup approaching.
That tension was clear in reactions following Barcelona’s own preparations, which SoftFootball detailed when covering Hansi Flick’s call for unity ahead of the final.
One Barcelona supporter, @FCB_Wyzz, summed up the concern rather than celebrating the occasion. His comment was not an attack on Mbappé’s quality but a reflection of disbelief that such a valuable player could be pushed toward a high-risk return so soon after a knee injury.
In that context, he wrote:
He’s risking his knees in a WC year for a Supercopa.
That same worry echoed across rival fanbases. @GBarca_ focused on the timing, questioning the logic behind gambling fitness for a short-term trophy.
Risking it all for some Super Cup trophy when you have the World Cup in 6 months.
Others viewed the situation through a different lens. @grizi723 framed it as unfinished business.
He pointed out, suggesting motivation rather than recklessness:
He has won the wc but not super cup.
Some reactions leaned fully into rivalry as @BridgeDynasty looked ahead confidently.
He wrote:
Super cup next destination is camp nou.
@Real_Smau believed the storyline favours Barcelona, posting:
Flick is about to get his revenge on Alonso this Sunday. Can’t be left out.
Emotions peaked with raw fan energy from @ineeda_spark, who declared:
I want us to do unholy things to this Madrid team.
Not all voices doubted Mbappé’s impact. @Mahjeedor cut through the debate with belief in inevitability.
He stated:
One thing I know for sure is Mbappe is gonna score.
As kickoff approaches, Mbappé’s situation captures everything El Clásico represents. Fear, hope, rivalry and consequence all collide in one decision. Whether he starts or not, the reaction alone shows how one player’s fitness can tilt the emotional balance of a final before a ball is even kicked.
