ไทย
English
中國人
Kylian Mbappé allegedly clashed with a Real Madrid coaching staff member before the team's trip to face Real Betis, adding fuel to the already simmering tensions in the club's locker room — tensions that his Italian getaway only made worse.
It's been no secret that the Bernabéu dressing room has been divided throughout the season, and Mbappé's recent behavior both at the training ground and during his personal time has done little to mend the rifts running through Álvaro Arbeloa's squad.
The Athletic reports that the Frenchman sparked a dispute with a staff member who flagged him offside during a training session. Mbappé reportedly "spoke angrily and in insulting terms," yet appeared to face no disciplinary consequences.
The episode "contributed to the worsening of the mood" at the world's most prestigious club, a mood that darkened further when the striker chose to take a brief holiday just one week before El Clásico rather than staying in Madrid to recover from his hamstring injury.
According to L'Equipe, there is a mounting "irritation" over Mbappé's "lack of discretion" at Real Madrid. Coupled with his "overly individualistic nature," a clear divide has emerged between him and the majority of his teammates in the dressing room.
Mbappé's Camp Issues Swift Response to Growing Unrest
As the controversy surrounding Mbappé grows louder, his representatives released a statement to AFP pushing back against the wave of criticism directed at the French international.
"Part of the criticisms are based on an overinterpretation of elements related to a recovery period strictly supervised by the club," the statement read.
"This is NOT corresponding to the reality of the commitment and the work that Kylian does daily for the good of the team."
Despite the rebuttal, the perception of Mbappé within Real Madrid shows little sign of improving. Since the 27-year-old arrived ahead of the 2024–25 campaign, Los Blancos have gone two consecutive seasons without lifting a major trophy.
The team also enjoyed their strongest run of form while Mbappé was sidelined with injury in March, winning five matches in a row — including a two-legged victory over Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16. Upon his return to the starting lineup, Real Madrid failed to win five of their following six games.
Real Madrid Squad Chooses Between Mbappé and Vinicius Junior
Over the past two years, a growing belief has taken hold that Real Madrid cannot thrive with both Mbappé and Vinicius Junior in the squad. Much of the debate has focused on their poor on-field chemistry, but the friction has now spilled into the locker room.
MARCA reports that the squad is "fully committed" to Vinicius Jr, while recent months have "fractured the bond" with Mbappé. Arbeloa appears to share that sentiment, having made pointed remarks suggesting his star's conduct doesn't reflect the values of the players who built Real Madrid's legacy.
Vinicius Jr is very much one of those players, having already guided the club to two Champions League titles by the age of 25. Following the team's 2–0 victory over Espanyol at the weekend — a match played while Mbappé was vacationing in Italy — the Brazilian took to social media and posted, "With this club to the death. We must keep going! We will return to the top."
Mbappé's growing isolation and the internal power struggle between him and Vinicius Jr would be damaging enough on their own, but Antonio Rüdiger has also added to the dysfunction festering at the Bernabéu.
The Athletic revealed that the German centre-back was involved in a "heated argument" with another first-team player back in April. Although he later apologized for his conduct, the incident stands as yet another sign of the deepening turmoil unfolding behind closed doors at the Bernabéu.