.Tensions exploded at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground on the eve of El Clásico after Kylian Mbappé dramatically left the session just five minutes being informed he would not be in the starting lineup, according to Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the club, occurred during the team’s final training session before Sunday’s showdown against Barcelona. Sources inside the facility describe the atmosphere as one of “utter surprise” following the French superstar’s abrupt departure.
A Suspiciously Timed Injury
According to reports from multiple Spanish outlets, including MARCA, the sequence of events unfolded rapidly. Mbappé, who had been expected to feature prominently in the season-defining fixture, was reportedly pulled aside by manager Álvaro Arbeloa’s staff and informed that he would not be starting .
Just five minutes later, Mbappé suddenly stopped training, claiming to feel discomfort in his hamstrings. He told medical staff he could not continue and immediately left the session .
The timing has raised eyebrows both inside and outside the club. While muscle injuries can indeed appear without warning, team sources—speaking anonymously—expressed skepticism given the direct proximity to the benching decision.
“Up until that point, optimism had taken hold of the coaching staff. The session had been proceeding normally, and the Frenchman’s presence fueled hopes of having a decisive player available against Barça,” MARCA reported .
A Club in Crisis
Mbappé’s dramatic exit is merely the latest episode in what has become a nightmare season for the reigning European champions. Real Madrid currently sit trophy-less this campaign following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona—a result that mathematically handed the La Liga title to their fiercest rivals .
But the on-field struggles have been matched by a dressing room in open revolt. In the days leading up to El Clásico, Valdebebas witnessed two separate physical altercations between players.
The first incident saw Antonio Rüdiger slap teammate Álvaro Carreras. The following day, tensions escalated dramatically when Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni came to blows, with Valverde requiring hospital treatment for a cut that needed stitches .
Manager Arbeloa has been forced to publicly defend his squad’s morale. When questioned about Mbappé being seen laughing as he left the training complex on a separate occasion, the former Madrid captain pushed back forcefully.
“For a player to come out smiling after a training session is to take things out of place and out of context,” Arbeloa said, as quoted by MARCA. “In Mbappé’s case, we all know the effort he made to come to Madrid and what he gave up” .
Emergency Meeting Convened
The chaos has prompted direct intervention from the club’s highest levels. General manager José Ángel Sánchez reportedly convened an emergency meeting with the entire first-team squad in an attempt to defuse the situation and restore order before the season spirals further out of control .
A Star’s Silence—And a Social Media Backlash
Mbappé did not travel with the team to the Camp Nou. Instead, he remained in Madrid and watched the match on television. During the game, with Barcelona already leading 2-0, he posted an Instagram story of himself watching the broadcast with the caption “Hala Madrid” and a white heart .
The gesture, intended as a show of support, backfired spectacularly among the club’s notoriously demanding fanbase. Supporters took to social media to express their displeasure, questioning why a player who had just removed himself from the squad was now performing solidarity from his couch.
“It’s safe to say that Mbappé’s first two years at Real Madrid have not been successful,” Yahoo Sports noted. “He’s been in very good form, but with the club itself failing to win any major trophies during this period, pressure has fallen on the Frenchman’s shoulders” .
What Comes Next?
With the season effectively over in terms of silverware, all eyes now turn to the summer. While there is no current indication that Mbappé will seek an exit, the cumulative weight of two trophy-less seasons, persistent dressing-room friction, and now a very public confrontation over playing time has placed president Florentino Pérez in an increasingly difficult position .
The Frenchman, who joined Madrid in 2024 after one of the most protracted transfer sagas in football history, has performed admirably on an individual level—netting 44 goals across all competitions in his debut season and winning both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Boot . But individual accolades have done little to mask the team’s collective dysfunction.
For now, Madrid’s hierarchy is expected to support Arbeloa publicly. But behind the scenes, sources suggest that patience is wearing thin—and that no player, not even Mbappé, is untouchable if the club’s culture continues to erode.
