In the eye of a storm brewing before a potentially season-defining El Clásico, Kylian Mbappé has broken his silence. The Real Madrid superstar’s representatives have issued a forceful statement to AFP , vehemently rejecting a wave of criticism from the Spanish press regarding his professionalism and recent conduct during injury recovery .
The controversy erupted after the French striker was spotted traveling to Italy with his partner, actress Ester Expósito, while his teammates were preparing for a La Liga match against Espanyol . With the club virtually out of the title race and Mbappé sidelined by a hamstring injury, the trip sparked immediate backlash, with fans and pundits questioning his dedication ahead of the critical clash against Barcelona .
‘Strictly Supervised’
In a bid to quell the escalating unrest, Mbappé’s camp released a terse but pointed rebuttal. They dismissed the accusations as a fundamental misunderstanding of his rehabilitation process.
“Part of these criticisms are based on an overinterpretation of elements related to a recovery period strictly supervised by the club. Real Madrid are in control of the situation on a daily basis.”
The statement, which directly addresses the narrative of an “unprofessional” attitude, continued to defend the player’s daily routine, asserting that the external noise does not match the internal reality .
“This is not corresponding to the reality of the commitment and the work that Kylian does daily for the good of the team.”
Tensions at Valdebebas
The official response comes amid reports of a fractured dressing room at the Bernabéu. While Mbappé’s team insists on his full focus, recent weeks have seen rumors of “growing irritation” regarding the forward’s behavior .
Multiple reports, including from The Athletic, have detailed a heated exchange involving Mbappé during a training session at Valdebebas, where the striker allegedly used insulting language toward a staff member who flagged him offside . While the club has not commented on the internal incident, it highlights the underlying friction within Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad as they navigate a disappointing campaign.
Defiance from the Dugout
Despite the external criticism, Mbappé has found an unlikely defender in his coach. Arbeloa, whose own future at the club remains uncertain, downplayed the significance of the Italy trip when pressed by reporters.
“All the planning regarding the injured players is supervised by Real Madrid medical staff,” Arbeloa stated, adding that in their free time, players “can do as they see fit” .
With 24 league goals to his name this season, Mbappé remains La Liga’s top scorer. Yet, as he returns to training—reportedly showing up on a day off to accelerate his recovery—the looming question remains his fitness for Sunday’s El Clásico at Camp Nou, a match Barcelona can win to clinch the title .
For now, Mbappé’s camp has drawn a line in the sand, insisting the narrative of a disinterested superstar is simply an “overinterpretation.”
