Kylian Mbappé lands in Madrid 12 minutes before kickoff against Espanyol
TV cameras caught the French star arriving after a vacation in Italy with Ester Expósito. His plane touched down at 8:48 p.m., just moments before his teammates took the field.
With just 12 minutes to go before Espanyol vs. Real Madrid kicked off, Kylian Mbappé landed in the Spanish capital. His arrival was captured by Spanish football show El Chiringuito. The Madrid star was returning from a few days off in Italy, specifically Cagliari, alongside actress Ester Expósito. It marked the end of a getaway that had been widely followed through social media clips. The timing, 8:48 p.m. local time, with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 p.m. under referee Jesús Gil Manzano, has sparked criticism among Real Madrid fans, less for the trip itself than for the context.
Mbappé out injured
Mbappé is currently sidelined after picking up an injury against Real Betis. Late in that match, around the 80th minute, he asked to come off, and tests later confirmed a left hamstring injury. The setback ruled him out temporarily, with a clear target set: return for the Clásico. That plan has not changed. But given Madrid’s current situation, the optics have not gone down well, both among supporters and within certain sectors of the club.
The frustration stems from the timing. With the season nearing its end, and silverware out of reach, Mbappé’s public return from vacation has been poorly received. The trip itself was not unauthorized, but the image it projects has struck a nerve at a delicate moment, adding to an already tense atmosphere.
The French player’s focus now turns to the Clásico, with the intention of being fit to play. It is also a chance to secure the scoring title, currently contested by Vedat Muriqi. Mbappé has 24 goals to Muriqi’s 21. Even so, neither the individual accolade nor his 41 goals across all competitions can fully offset a disappointing season overall. And despite his scoring record, Mbappé heads into the final stretch under a cloud of scrutiny, arriving in Madrid just minutes before his team took the field.
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