The Real Madrid dressing room is growing restless, and many supporters are calling for his departure: Kylian Mbappé’s controversial trip to Cagliari last weekend has heightened tensions surrounding the French striker.
Kylian Mbappé’s trip to Cagliari last weekend has reignited criticism of the Frenchman’s behaviour. Whilst recovering from a muscle injury, the Real Madrid striker treated himself to a high-profile getaway to Sardinia with his partner Ester Exposito.
He did not return to Madrid until Sunday evening, landing a dozen minutes before kick-off of the La Liga match between Espanyol and Real Madrid (0-2), in which he did not feature. But Mbappé does not need to be on the pitch to make headlines.
Mbappé isolates himself
His day-to-day behaviour – often self-centred – is starting to cause frustration within the club. According to the newspaper L’Equipe, the Real Madrid dressing room is finding it increasingly difficult to accept the privileges granted to the former Parisian, who is accused, for example, of adopting a contemptuous attitude towards a member of staff, or of arriving 40 minutes late for the last meal organised by the players.
As a result, Mbappé finds himself increasingly isolated within the Madrid microcosm. The France captain reportedly maintains warm relations only with his national team-mates, whilst others are distancing themselves from him. Real Madrid, for their part, have grown frustrated with Mbappé’s lack of discretion and his inability to consider the damaging repercussions of his outbursts on the club’s image, at the tail end of a season that has been a resounding failure.
Many supporters no longer want him
Furthermore, Mbappé no longer enjoys unanimous support among the fans, despite very impressive statistics since his arrival at the club (85 goals in 100 matches). On the contrary. On social media, the Madrid club’s recent posts have been inundated with messages calling for the French striker’s departure. Some are accompanied by more or less crude montages.
One of them, bearing the slogan ‘Mbappé out’, has been widely used and shared by Real Madrid fans, who are disillusioned by the 27-year-old’s attitude and are therefore calling for him to leave. Mbappé is undoubtedly going through one of the most critical periods of his time at Real Madrid, even though his arrival in 2024 wasn’t exactly a bed of roses either.
Real: Mbappé’s getaway doesn’t go down well…
Sidelined with a thigh injury, Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé has been in the news in recent days following a trip to Sardinia. Criticised for his attitude, the French international has clearly ruffled feathers among the Merengue faithful.
Sidelined with a thigh injury, striker Kylian Mbappé did not feature in Real Madrid’s 2-0 La Liga victory over Espanyol Barcelona on Sunday. And yet, this Monday, the French international is making headlines in Spain.
Indeed, the former Parisian’s attitude continues to be the talk of the town…
Mbappé, a trip to Sardinia that has caused irritation
In recent days, Mbappé has been spotted in Cagliari, Sardinia, with his girlfriend, Ester Exposito. A highly publicised getaway that has drawn criticism as the Merengues head towards a trophy-less season. According to reports in the Madrid-based daily AS, the club is baffled by this situation.
Whilst the Real Madrid management did indeed authorise the Frenchman’s trip, they did not expect him to expose himself in this way to the media at a time when the team is going through a very difficult period. Above all, within the dressing room, Mbappé’s behaviour is reportedly not going down well with some players, who claim he is receiving preferential treatment.
Arbeloa responds to the controversy
On the sidelines of the victory against Espanyol, Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa spoke out to calm the controversy. “The management of injured players is entirely the responsibility of Real Madrid’s medical staff, who determine when they must go to Valdebebas and when they are not permitted to do so. Apart from that, each player does as he sees fit in his free time, and I cannot intervene in that,” the Spanish coach explained at a press conference. Yet another twist in Mbappé’s eventful season in Madrid…
