Kylian Mbappé reportedly causes locker-room unease at Real Madrid after trips during rehab
Reports say Kylian Mbappé’s recent travels while recovering from a left hamstring strain have unsettled some Real Madrid teammates ahead of El Clásico, though manager Álvaro Arbel...
Who, what, when and why it matters: According to reporting cited by World Soccer Talk, Kylian Mbappé has reportedly prompted discomfort among some Real Madrid teammates after travelling abroad while recovering from a left-leg semitendinosus muscle strain. The matter has emerged with Real Madrid preparing for El Clásico against FC Barcelona on Sunday, May 10 — a fixture that could decide the La Liga title — and comes amid questions over Mbappé’s availability and the squad’s mood late in a difficult season.
What the reports say
World Soccer Talk says images circulated of Mbappé spending time in Cagliari and Sardinia, Italy, while sidelined after leaving Real Betis’ match on April 27 (he was substituted in the 81st minute) with a muscle strain in the semitendinosus of his left leg. The outlet says Spanish newspaper El Mundo reports some team-mates were upset by the timing and optics of those trips, given the player’s absence from the subsequent fixture against Espanyol.
Manager response and club context
Álvaro Arbeloa is reported to have defended Mbappé in his post-match press conference after the Espanyol game, stressing that injured players’ plans are supervised by Real Madrid’s medical services and that players may use their free time as they wish. Arbeloa was also quoted asserting he does not doubt the commitment of his players to the club.
World Soccer Talk notes this is not the first time Mbappé’s travel choices have drawn attention; earlier in the season he reportedly travelled to Paris for knee treatment with Real Madrid physiotherapists present and with the club’s support. The outlet frames the current episode as more divisive because the squad is approaching the season’s final weeks without silverware.
Implications for Real Madrid and the Clasico
Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 with Vinícius Júnior scoring both goals in Mbappé’s absence, according to the source. The El Clasico on May 10 could officially hand La Liga to Barcelona; World Soccer Talk reports expectations remain that Mbappé could be fit to play, but it says the internal reaction to his trips has yet to be fully resolved.
- Mbappé left Real Betis match in the 81st minute with a semitendinosus muscle strain in his left leg (as reported).
- He missed the following game against Espanyol (reported) and images surfaced of him in Cagliari and Sardinia.
- Spanish outlet El Mundo is cited as reporting some Real Madrid players were unhappy with the timing of his travel.
- Álvaro Arbeloa publicly defended the club’s medical process and Mbappé’s commitment in a post-match press conference.
- Real Madrid won the Espanyol fixture 2-0, with Vinícius Júnior scoring both goals (reported).
What happens next: The immediate question is whether Mbappé will be declared fit and selected for El Clasico on May 10. World Soccer Talk says expectations are that he could be available, but it also makes clear the reported locker-room unease could have knock-on effects if disputes persist. The facts behind the internal reaction, the club’s official medical position, and any statements from players have not been independently confirmed in the supplied source and should be verified before publication.