News Focus
- French forward says he ranks behind Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo Garcia and Franco Mastantuono in the squad
- Supporters whistled Mbappe when he came on as substitute in the 2-0 win against Real Oviedo
- Manager Alvaro Arbeloa insists the striker was not ready to start after a recent injury lay-off
- Real Madrid remain without silverware this season after losing the La Liga title to Barcelona
Kylian Mbappe has revealed he believes he is currently the fourth-choice attacker at Real Madrid following his surprise omission from the starting eleven against Real Oviedo.
The French international entered the pitch at the Bernabeu as a substitute in the 69th minute of Thursday’s 2-0 victory. He was met with loud whistles from sections of the home crowd. Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo Garcia and young prospect Franco Mastantuono were all selected ahead of the 27-year-old for the clash.
Speaking after the match, Mbappe insisted he was fully recovered from the thigh problem that had kept him out of the previous two fixtures, including the damaging defeat to Barcelona that handed the Catalan club the La Liga championship.
“I am completely fit,” the striker stated. “The reason I did not start is because the manager sees me as the fourth option in the squad. I am behind Mastantuono, Vinicius and Gonzalo in the pecking order.”
Mbappe, who has netted 41 goals in 41 matches this campaign, added that he respects manager Alvaro Arbeloa’s decision despite his disappointment.
Arbeloa, however, disputed the player’s assessment. The Spanish coach explained that Mbappe could not have started just four days after missing the Barcelona match through injury.
“I spoke with him before the game,” Arbeloa said. “I do not know how he understood our conversation. A player who was not even on the bench four days ago cannot start today. This was not a final or a life-or-death match.”
The incident comes amid a difficult period for both player and club. Real Madrid have finished the season without winning any major trophies, increasing pressure on everyone at the club.
Supporters’ frustration boiled over when Mbappe appeared on the pitch, while stewards also removed a banner calling for president Florentino Perez to resign. The forward had earlier faced criticism after photographs showed him relaxing on a yacht in Sardinia while recovering from his injury during a match against Espanyol.
An online petition demanding the club sell Mbappe has attracted millions of signatures in recent weeks.
When asked about the hostile reception from fans, Mbappe remained defiant. “The whistles are part of life,” he said. “You cannot change people’s opinions when they are angry. This is the reality for a Real Madrid player and for a famous footballer like myself.”
“We do not always need to understand everything. We must accept the situation, look forward and try to change things.”
Gonzalo Garcia and Jude Bellingham scored the goals that secured the win against the already-relegated visitors, providing some cheer on an otherwise tense evening in the Spanish capital.