Kylian Mbappe was absent from training on Tuesday as Alvaro Arbeloa oversaw his first session as Real Madrid head coach, marking the start of a new era at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Arbeloa, appointed on Monday following the departure of Xabi Alonso, officially took charge ahead of Madrid’s Copa del Rey clash against Albacete on Wednesday.
Mbappe is unlikely to feature in the fixture as he continues his recovery from a knee sprain, despite making a brief return as a late substitute in Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona.
The French forward is expected to focus on regaining full fitness ahead of next Tuesday’s Champions League encounter against Monaco, his former club.
A Real Madrid source described Mbappe’s absence as a precautionary and logical decision, given the ongoing recovery process.