News Focus
- Real Madrid earned a 2-0 victory against Espanyol on Sunday, with Vinicius Junior scoring both goals to delay Barcelona’s La Liga title celebrations.
- Interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa publicly criticised the squad’s lack of defensive effort, stating that ‘talent alone is not enough’ and comparing current attitudes unfavourably to players who get their shirts ‘covered in mud’.
- Kylian Mbappe faces scrutiny after being photographed on holiday in Italy with an injury, while statistics reveal Real Madrid have won only one of six matches when he starts, compared to six wins from six when he does not.
- The dressing room appears divided, with Jude Bellingham appearing to support Vinicius Junior on social media amid reports of tension between the French striker and his teammates.
- Columnist Jeremy Beren argues that club president Florentino Perez should sell Mbappe this summer to resolve the crisis, contrasting Real Madrid’s struggles with city rivals Atletico Madrid’s Champions League semi-final run.
Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-0 win against struggling Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday night, temporarily keeping their faint La Liga title hopes alive. Vinicius Junior netted twice to ensure Barcelona must wait at least another week to lift the trophy, despite the Catalan giants sitting nine points clear following their victory at Osasuna.
However, the result on the pitch has done little to mask the growing chaos behind the scenes at the Bernabeu. Interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa delivered a blistering assessment of his players’ commitment after the match, suggesting that some stars lack the fighting spirit required to wear the famous white shirt.
“Every player can do what they wish during their free time, but we did not build this club with players who dress like they are going to a ball,” Arbeloa told reporters. “Real Madrid was built by footballers who finish matches with dirty kits, full of sweat and mud.”
His comments appear aimed at Kylian Mbappe, who sparked controversy by travelling to Italy on holiday with his girlfriend while recovering from a knee problem. The French forward has dominated individual accolades since joining in 2024, scoring 85 goals in 100 appearances and set to win back-to-back Pichichi trophies as La Liga’s top scorer.
Yet the team appears to function poorly with him in the side. Statistical analysis shows Los Blancos have won just one of six games when Mbappe starts, compared to perfect victories in all six matches he has missed. The World Cup winner has also faced criticism for refusing to participate in defensive pressing, with viral clips showing him ignoring instructions to close down opponents.
The dressing room seems increasingly fractured. England midfielder Jude Bellingham posted cryptic messages on Instagram following Sunday’s win that appeared to back Vinicius Junior in the ongoing power struggle. Meanwhile, defender Alvaro Carreras was caught laughing on camera when learning that Fran Garcia had been selected ahead of him to replace the injured Ferland Mendy.
This internal strife follows a disastrous season for the reigning European champions. They crashed out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage, suffered a humiliating cup defeat to lower-league Albacete, and saw manager Xabi Alonso dismissed after Vinicius Junior threw a tantrum during October’s El Clasico.
With neighbours Atletico Madrid preparing to face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals, Real Madrid face an identity crisis. Club insiders now suggest president Florentino Perez should cut his losses and sell Mbappe during the upcoming transfer window, accepting that the experiment of pairing the Frenchman with Vinicius Junior has failed despite the individual brilliance both players possess.