Real Madrid fans distance themselves from Mbappé

What unfolded on Sunday laid bare Kylian Mbappé’s current relationship with the Real Madrid fanbase.

Images broadcast by ‘El Chiringuito’ showing the French forward stepping off his private jet just minutes before kickoff in Cornellà, followed by events on the field – where Vinícius Júnior led by example – stirred frustration among supporters online. For days, footage had already been circulating of the French star enjoying his time off after his latest injury, including a trip to Cagliari with his partner, Ester Expósito.

Within the club, that public exposure has also caused confusion and unease. There has been little appreciation for how visible Mbappé’s trip became on social media, a situation partly fueled by the player’s inability – or unwillingness – to stay out of sight. In the offices at Valdebebas, his behavior during such a delicate moment is difficult to understand, with Barcelona on the verge of clinching the title and a Clásico looming that could effectively settle La Liga.

What has transpired in recent days – that level of visibility while teammates were fully committed ahead of the Cornellà game, trying to avoid the symbolic guard of honor debate at Camp Nou – has also created distance between the star and the locker room. Real Madrid had approved Mbappé’s time off, aware of the physical toll he had endured across much of the season, often playing through knee discomfort, and mindful of his remarkable scoring output (41 goals in 41 games). But the permission was never intended to lead to such public attention. That was not the plan.

Medical tests conducted after the game against Betis had already indicated it would be difficult for him to feature in the Clásico. That explains the lack of urgency in his recovery and the medical staff’s decision to prioritize rest. Álvaro Arbeloa hinted at as much when asked in Cornellà, though he stopped short of fully endorsing the player’s conduct. “All injury management is supervised by Real Madrid’s medical staff, who determine when a player should be at Valdebebas and when not,” he said. “From there, each individual does what they consider appropriate in their free time – that’s not for me to judge.” He added: “After last week’s tests, it seemed it might take a bit longer, but we’ll see how things develop.”

Now, Mbappé’s availability for the match against Barcelona remains uncertain. Further tests are expected when he returns to training this week, with several days still available to assess his progress and make a final decision. With the league title all but out of reach, all parties understand there is little sense in taking unnecessary risks.

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