Just when you thought the drama at Valdebebas couldn’t get any worse, a fresh war of words has erupted between Kylian Mbappé and manager Álvaro Arbeloa. Following his second-half cameo against Real Oviedo—where he was loudly booed by sections of the Bernabéu crowd—the French superstar dropped a bombshell, suggesting his recent benching wasn’t just about his hamstring.
Mbappé reportedly voiced frustrations that he has slipped down the pecking order behind Vinícius Jr., Franco Mastantuono, and academy graduate Gonzalo García.
Arbeloa Fires Back: “He Must Have Misunderstood Me”
In a tense post-match press conference, Arbeloa completely dismissed the claims of a “demotion,” attributing the drama to a massive miscommunication during a private chat before the game.
“I wish I had four forwards, but I don’t… At no point could I have told him he’s the fourth forward. He must have misunderstood me.” — Álvaro Arbeloa
The manager stood firm on his tactical authority, reminding the media and the player who calls the shots. “If I don’t play him, he can’t play; that’s clear because I’m the coach, and I decide who plays and who doesn’t.”
The Common-Sense Argument
Arbeloa explained that his decision to bench Mbappé against Oviedo was purely precautionary, given the tight schedule and the striker’s recent return from injury.
- No Risks: “A player who couldn’t even make the bench four days ago [against Barcelona] shouldn’t start today. This isn’t a final.”
- The Sevilla Plan: Arbeloa revealed that he already told Mbappé he would lead the line this weekend. “We have a match on Sunday, where he will surely be the starting forward… Seven days later, he will surely earn being the first forward again.”
RMxtra Verdict: Counting Down the Days
While Arbeloa’s explanation makes perfect medical sense, the fact that Mbappé publicly aired his frustration shows how fractured the relationship between the squad and the current coaching staff truly is. Paranoia is running high in the locker room, and players are clearly on edge.
Fortunately for Mbappé, he only has to navigate this “misunderstanding” for a few more days. With José Mourinho’s arrival looking imminent after May 17, the hierarchy of Real Madrid’s attack is about to be completely rewritten by the “Special One.”