Italian football manager Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful Karim Benzema will be fit to feature for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup final.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Benzema did not travel to Morocco earlier this week for the tournament, having sustained a hamstring injury.
However, Ancelotti confirmed after Madrid beat Al Ahly 4-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final that the 35-year-old will travel out to train with his team-mates on Friday.
Benzema will be joined by Eder Militao, though Ancelotti – who confirmed Marco Asensio and Dani Carvajal were kept on the bench against Al Ahly due to issues with their fitness – harbours more doubts over the defender’s possible contention for Saturday’s clash with Al-Hilal.
“They are not fully recovered,” Ancelotti told reporters of Benzema and Militao.
“Karim is doing pretty well and there are more doubts about Militao.
“They will train on Friday and then we will see.
“Carvajal had a fever and Asensio a little overload. I think he will be ready for Saturday.”