Kylian Mbappe experienced an unwelcoming reception from the Santiago Bernabeu faithful upon his return to the pitch after an injury layoff. The French forward had been sidelined for Real Madrid’s last two matches due to a hamstring issue, casting doubt on his availability for El Clásico.
Mbappe sustained a hamstring injury in late April during a match against Real Betis. He was unable to play against Espanyol the following week. However, fans reacted angrily to his arrival in Madrid from a holiday in Italy just moments before kick-off. Despite widespread reports suggesting he would be fit for El Clásico against Barcelona the previous weekend, Mbappe ultimately missed the game, even though he had participated in training the day before.
Mbappe Met with Loud Whistles from Santiago Bernabeu Crowd
On Thursday night, Mbappe was deemed fit enough to be included on the bench for the match against Real Oviedo and entered the game with 22 minutes remaining. The 27-year-old was greeted by deafening whistles from the crowd, a reaction he seemed to acknowledge with a bemused smile.
Vinicius Junior Also Jeered by Real Madrid Supporters
This match also marked the first opportunity for Real Madrid fans to express their feelings towards Aurelien Tchouameni since his altercation with Fede Valverde, which resulted in a €500,000 fine last week. Tchouameni received a mixed reaction of applause and whistles. In contrast, Vinicius Junior was whistled every time he touched the ball throughout the game.
Mbappe and Arbeloa Offer Conflicting Accounts Post-Match
However, the most significant post-match headlines stemmed from their 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo. Mbappe stated that he was fit to start the game and that manager Alvaro Arbeloa had informed him he was the “fourth forward.” Arbeloa, however, countered this, asserting his authority over team selection and denying he made any such statement to Mbappe.