Kylian Mbappé said Álvaro Arbeloa told him he was Real Madrid’s “fourth-choice forward” after being left on the bench and then whistled by the Bernabéu crowd during the club’s 2-0 win over Real Oviedo, per the report. Mbappé entered as a 69th-minute substitute for Gonzalo García, who had earlier given Madrid the lead.
The match was Madrid’s first at home since Barcelona clinched the title and came amid a turbulent week that included president Florentino Pérez announcing he would seek fresh presidential elections, the report says. Mbappé had missed the previous Clasico with a hamstring issue and began the game against Oviedo on the bench; he told reporters he felt fully fit and accepted the coach’s decision while vowing to work for more playing time.
Arbeloa rejected Mbappé’s account in his postmatch news conference, saying he did not tell the forward that he was fourth choice and suggesting the player may have misinterpreted their pregame conversation. The coach added that he decides the lineup and defended the choice not to start a player who had not been on the bench days earlier, per the report.
The report notes Madrid supporters and parts of the local media had criticized Mbappé after he was photographed on a short holiday while recovering and then failed to reach fitness for the Clasico. Mbappé said the break had been authorized by the club and that he had to accept the whistles from fans as part of life at Real Madrid.
Mbappé also reflected on a disappointing season in which the team finished without a major trophy for a second straight year and Xabi Alonso was replaced midseason by Arbeloa, the report says. He acknowledged the need to outcompete teammates Gonzalo, Mastantuono and Vinícius for minutes as Madrid prepare for two remaining league matches, away at Sevilla and then at home against Athletic Club.
