Kylian Mbappe has found himself under scrutiny from the Spanish press once again, and it appears Real Madrid also harbors some dissatisfaction with his recent actions. The France captain, while recovering from an injury, left Madrid for the third time this season, at a particularly critical juncture for the team.
As Real Madrid was facing Espanyol on Sunday evening, paparazzi caught images of Mbappe returning to Spain via private jet with his girlfriend, Ester Exposito. This development did not sit well with Real Madrid President Florentino Perez. When questioned after their victory over Los Pericos, Arbeloa stated that players are free to manage their personal time as they see fit.
“All arrangements for injured players are managed by Real Madrid’s medical staff, who dictate when players should be at Valdebebas and when they don’t need to be. Beyond that, each player makes their own decisions in their free time, and I cannot interfere with that,” he told Marca.
Notably, five out of the six questions Arbeloa received, directly or indirectly, pertained to Mbappe and his commitment. The remaining question concerned Vinicius Junior’s performance. The Brazilian is being directly compared to Mbappe, fueling a debate about who should be the club’s central figure.
“I have no doubt about the commitment of any of my players. I believe they all understand the significance of these matches for us. There has never been, there isn’t, and there never will be a club bigger than Real Madrid, and I think all my players grasp this perfectly—what they represent, where they are, and how fortunate they are to be here.”
‘To Win Any Match, You Need the Commitment of Every Player’
A point of frustration with both Mbappe and, to some extent, Vinicius has been the perceived lack of work rate from the forwards, a sentiment echoed by Arbeloa in his press conference. He was asked if Vinicius demonstrated greater commitment than Mbappe.
“I do not make comparisons between players. We require everyone. To win any match, the commitment of every single player is essential. It pains me when we observe other teams running more than us, not only when we lose possession but also when we have the ball. We need everyone’s commitment to press, to defend, and to attack.”
‘We Didn’t Build Real Madrid With Players in Tuxedos’
More broadly, he was pressed on whether Los Blancos perhaps lacked the necessary collective commitment. Mbappe, having been photographed in formal attire during his trips abroad, would need to finish games drenched in sweat to appease Arbeloa.
“Talent alone is insufficient. I appreciate seeing players understand the importance of commitment and truly embody Real Madrid’s values. We did not build Real Madrid with players who take to the pitch in tuxedos, but with players who finish the game with their shirts covered in sweat, mud, effort, sacrifice, and perseverance. When talent is combined with commitment and effort, that is what makes us the best team in the world.”
These remarks have not gone unnoticed in Spain, with many media outlets close to Real Madrid interpreting them as indirect messages aimed at Mbappe. The 26-year-old was signed with the expectation of becoming the future leader of Real Madrid in their pursuit of continued Champions League success, but as noted by Cadena Cope, there is a degree of disillusionment regarding Mbappe’s leadership capabilities in this regard.