Chelsea forward Willian has failed to report back for pre-season training despite being scheduled to link up with his team-mates last Friday.
The Brazilian, who has been enjoying an extended break after playing at the World Cup, has contacted the club to blame his late arrival on a problem with his passport.
Club officials knew he was returning late and now expect Willian back at Cobham on Wednesday. They are confident that the situation is not a repeat of the Diego Costa saga which plagued last year's pre-season preparations.
Willian had been targeted by Barcelona earlier in the transfer window, with Chelsea rejecting a bid of £65m for the former Shakhtar Donetsk man.
But the Blues are understood to be considering a double bid worth £100million from Real Madrid for Willian and Thibaut Courtois, with the Belgium No 1 particularly keen on a move back to the Spanish capital.
Willian was due to fly with the rest of the Chelsea squad to Dublin on Tuesday evening, but he will now miss Wednesday's International Champions Cup match against London rivals Arsenal.
However, he is likely to be back in time to play a part in Sunday's Community Shield clash with champions Manchester City at Wembley.
Brazil were dumped out of the World Cup by Belgium at the quarter-final stage, meaning Willian has already had more than three weeks off.
The 29-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Manchester United this summer, is being relied upon by new boss Maurizio Sarri, with Eden Hazard likely to miss Sunday's game and the opening match of the season at Huddersfield.
Speaking this week to Globo Esporte, Willian insisted that his future remains at Stamford Bridge.
'[Leaving?] No, I'm back to England. I'm very happy at Chelsea,' he said.
'I'm very happy living in London.'