Kylian Mbappé has said he considers himself Real Madrid’s ‘fourth-choice’ forward after being jeered by the crowd when he came off the bench in a 2-0 home win over Real Oviedo. The French striker was returning from a hamstring problem that kept him out of the Clasico defeat which handed Barcelona the LaLiga title.
Mbappé replaced academy graduate Gonzalo García midway through the second half. García had started alongside Vinícius Júnior and Franco Mastantuono, and had opened the scoring before Jude Bellingham added a second. Despite the positive result, sections of the Bernabéu whistled the France international as he entered the pitch.
‘I’m 100 per cent fine,’ Mbappé told reporters after the match. He added that coach Álvaro Arbeloa had told him he was the ‘fourth-choice’ option behind Mastantuono, Vinícius and Gonzalo. Mbappé said he accepted the coach’s decision, would make the most of the minutes he was given and believed he played well when he came on. He also acknowledged he needs to do more to reclaim a starting spot.
The striker has been the centre of fan anger during a trophy-less season. More than 30 million people reportedly signed a petition calling for the club to move him on, and criticism intensified after Mbappé took a holiday to Sardinia while still recovering from his hamstring injury.
Arbeloa responded to Mbappé’s comments by stressing the decision was down to fitness and common sense, rather than a ranking of players. The coach said a player who could not even make the bench four days earlier was not ready to start immediately, particularly in a match that was not decisive for the title. Arbeloa denied the idea that Mbappé was being demoted and said he would decide his team selections while he remains in charge. He also confirmed that Mbappé would start Real Madrid’s next game against relegation-threatened Sevilla.
On the reaction from supporters, Mbappé was philosophical. ‘It’s life,’ he said. ‘You can’t change people’s minds when they’re angry. I shouldn’t take it personally. It’s the life of a Real Madrid player.’
The situation has sparked wider speculation about the club’s leadership and possible managerial change. José Mourinho, currently at Benfica, has been linked with a return to the Bernabéu and has been mentioned as someone who could help mend relations between star players and the fanbase. Mourinho, when asked about the friction, expressed sympathy for Arbeloa, calling him a friend and praising the former player’s spirit and commitment. Reports suggest Real president Florentino Pérez remains an admirer of Mourinho and that talks are quietly advancing behind the scenes about a potential move.
For now, the focus will be on results and team harmony. Mbappé’s public remark and the boos from a demanding Real Madrid supporters’ base underline the pressure at the club as they try to steady a season that has fallen short of expectations.