Kylian Mbappe has come under fire from a section of Real Madrid supporters after a holiday in Sardinia while sidelined with a hamstring injury, sparking fresh controversy days before Sunday’s Clasico against Barcelona. The French striker was among several injured players, including Thibaut Courtois and Arda Guler, granted rest days by the club, but his Italian getaway has angered fans who see it as poor timing.
Social media has become a flashpoint, with a satirical image showing Mbappe with a “Fuera (out)” stamp over his face circulating widely and being reposted in the comments of Real Madrid’s official accounts. Some fans are now openly calling for the forward to leave, and an online petition urging supporters to “make their voices heard” has also gained traction.
The backlash intensified after photos of Mbappe with actress Ester Exposito surfaced online as Real Madrid prepared for last weekend’s 2–0 win over Espanyol. The victory temporarily delayed Barcelona’s title celebrations, but the timing of the images added fuel to the criticism. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa defended players’ personal time, saying “each player does what they consider appropriate in their free time” and that it was “none of my business.” Yet some of his remarks were interpreted as an indirect rebuke of his top scorer.
“We didn’t build Real Madrid with players who play in tuxedos, but with players who finish matches with shirts full of sweat and mud, through effort and sacrifice,” Arbeloa said. “Madrid is a club where, fortunately, no player has ever been, is, or ever will be bigger than Real Madrid.”
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Mbappe’s representatives told AFP that much of the criticism misrepresents his recovery period, which they said is being closely supervised by the club and has no impact on his commitment to the team. The France captain has previously spoken about handling scrutiny, telling The Bridge podcast earlier this season, “I’ve reached a point where you’re going to get criticised whatever you do, so you might as well do what you want, at least then you stay true to yourself.”
Despite the controversy, Mbappe remains Real Madrid’s leading scorer this season with 41 goals in 41 matches across all competitions. However, since returning from injury in mid-March, he has faced accusations of an overly individualistic style. Spanish media reports suggest the striker is feeling frustrated after a second season without a major trophy and has grown isolated in the dressing room, even though he had earlier established himself as a leader.
Post-match comments from Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham after the Espanyol win have further fuelled speculation of tension. Vinicius stressed that “when we play together, we are better and stronger,” while Bellingham called on teammates to stay “together” and committed “until the very last whistle.” Friendly exchanges between the pair on social media, who won the Champions League before Mbappe’s arrival, have only added to talk of a growing rift within the squad.
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