Is Kylian Mbappe Already Planning His Real Madrid Exit in 2027?

It's not the first time Kylian Mbappé's behavior during an injury layoff has drawn criticism, with questions now mounting over whether he truly wants to stay at Real Madrid.

Earlier this year, the star striker faced backlash for choosing to holiday in Sardinia with his girlfriend Ester Expósito while nursing a hamstring injury.

Although the club had granted him permission, certain fans and media outlets took umbrage with the timing of the getaway, which coincided with a particularly difficult stretch of the season for Madrid.

The frustration even sparked an online petition demanding Mbappé's departure from the club, which collected tens of millions of signatures.

Five months later—and despite a brilliant start to the 2026–27 campaign—Mbappé has once again stirred controversy with his conduct during an injury absence. After hyperextending his knee on international duty with France, he was permitted to recuperate away from Madrid.

Bicycle-Gate Sparks Backlash

However, Instagram photos showing the forward cycling in Switzerland—apparently against manager José Mourinho's personal wishes—have been interpreted by some as Mbappé deliberately pushing boundaries.

What appeared to be a trivial incident barely worth a second glance quickly exploded across the Spanish press, with MARCA polling fans for their views on "bicycle-gate."

L'Équipe reports that figures close to Madrid are "criticizing Mbappé for not keeping a low enough profile," noting that Mourinho urged his player to be "more discreet" in how he presents himself publicly—without elaborating on the specifics.

The episode has poured more fuel onto simmering speculation about Mbappé's long-term dissatisfaction in the Spanish capital following two turbulent, silverware-free seasons.

RMC journalist Daniel Riolo is among those questioning his commitment, sensationally suggesting that a split between the world's biggest club and player at season's end "cannot be ruled out."

Where Would Mbappé Go?

Should either Mbappé or Madrid seek a change at the end of the season, engineering a transfer would be far from straightforward.

Mbappé has shown interest in other clubs before and frequently mentions his mother's affection for Liverpool. However, he remains contracted at the Bernabéu through the summer of 2029 and is Europe's highest-earning soccer player, reportedly taking home around €30 million ($33 million) annually.

According to soccer financials platform Capology, Liverpool's top earner is currently captain Virgil van Dijk at £18.2 million ($24 million) per year, meaning Mbappé's arrival would demand a financially seismic investment.

In practice, the pool of clubs capable of meeting both the World Cup top scorer's wage demands and a nine-figure transfer fee is extremely limited in today's market—with Madrid and his former club PSG perhaps the only viable European candidates.

In theory, Mbappé would be a prized acquisition for the Saudi Pro League, where financial constraints would be far less of a concern. Yet it seems improbable that a player openly pursuing the Ballon d'Or and a first Champions League crown would choose to exit Europe in his prime. He already rejected that path in 2023.

What Next for Madrid and Mbappé?

Despite the persistent talk of discord, Mbappé continues to enjoy the "unwavering support of president Florentino Pérez," according to L'Équipe.

The president is well known as an admirer of the forward and spent the better part of a decade pursuing him.

With 94 goals in 111 appearances and two Pichichi awards, Mbappé has shone as a galáctico but has yet to truly gel within a great Real Madrid side. Walking away from the Mbappé project now would represent a significant embarrassment for Pérez, who typically resists selling elite players while they remain at the height of their sporting and commercial appeal.

From Pérez's standpoint, the only scenario that might alter the calculus would be if another elite striker—such as Erling Haaland—became attainable. That remains entirely speculative, however.

For Mbappé, Madrid—bumps in the road and all—remains as strong a platform as any for pursuing his personal ambitions.

The No. 10 returned to training at Valdebebas this week and is pushing to feature in Saturday's La Liga return against Villarreal.

More goals will help shift the narrative away from the cycling controversy, but whispers of unrest are likely to persist for as long as Madrid remain without silverware.