Despite Kylian Mbappé enjoying what is statistically one of his best seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu, a growing dissatisfaction with the French forward persists within Real Madrid. As he recovers from a hamstring injury, the club is eager for his participation in the upcoming El Clásico.
Mbappé’s recent trip to Sardinia with his girlfriend, Ester Expósito, over the weekend drew criticism. While Real Madrid was preparing to face Espanyol in a match crucial for preventing Barcelona’s La Liga title win, Mbappé was seen disembarking from a private jet at Madrid airport. This act was perceived as disrespectful by the Spanish media, and manager Álvaro Arbeloa, without explicitly naming Mbappé, questioned the player’s commitment.
Deteriorating Relationship Between Mbappé and the Real Madrid Squad
According to Marca, Mbappé’s previous trip to Paris in March while injured, coupled with his recent excursion to Cagliari during a critical period for the team, has not only irked the fans but has also been poorly received within the dressing room. The report indicates that his relationships with many teammates and coaches have become more distant, and there is considerably more affection for Vinícius Júnior than for Mbappé.
Diario AS adds that while Mbappé had permission to continue his recovery in Cagliari, his lack of discretion upon returning to the Spanish capital has been met with disapproval. The club did not anticipate a public fallout stemming from these actions.
Florentino Pérez’s Desire for Mbappé’s Presence Against Barcelona
Mbappé is scheduled for further tests on Wednesday to ascertain his readiness to return to play this weekend, when Real Madrid travels to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in El Clásico. Sport reports that President Florentino Pérez is displeased with Mbappé’s attitude. Pérez expects Mbappé to be fit to play against Barcelona and wants him on the field, even though the necessary tests have yet to be conducted.
Following two seasons without a major trophy, the pressure on Mbappé to deliver is mounting. While his goal-scoring record is undeniable, the team’s struggles and lack of success have led to scrutiny of many Real Madrid stars’ performances. Increasingly, Mbappé is being viewed as part of the problem.
