Tension appears to be growing at Real Madrid after Kylian Mbappe suggested he had dropped down the club’s attacking pecking order, only for coach Alvaro Arbeloa to publicly reject the claim.
Following Madrid’s win over Real Oviedo, Mbappe disclosed that he was left out of the starting lineup despite being fully fit, sparking fresh debate. The French star implied that other attacking players were ahead of him in selection plans, therefore questioning his place in the squad.
The News Chronicle reports that Arbeloa quickly distanced himself from the comments, insisting he never described Mbappe as the team’s fourth choice striker. The Madrid coach explained that player selection remained his responsibility and was based on fitness, match conditions and tactical decisions.
The situation became more intense after sections of supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu reportedly booed Mbappe during the match. The reaction follows criticism surrounding his recent injury recovery period and mixed performances in recent weeks.
Even with the increased interest, Mbappe said he was cool about the criticism and understands how fans react when results don’t live up to standards. Still, the most recent trade has drawn attention to Real Madrid’s dressing room harmony as pressure continues to mount around the team’s star players.
