Kylian Mbappé has been at the centre of a fresh dispute involving Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, following comments made after the club’s La Liga victory over Real Oviedo, alongside a negative reaction from sections of supporters at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The match, played on Thursday, ended in a 2–0 win for Real Madrid. Mbappé was not included in the starting eleven and entered the game as a substitute in the 69th minute. At the time of his introduction, whistles and jeers were heard from parts of the home crowd inside the stadium.

Following the match, Mbappé told journalists that Arbeloa had informed him he was the “fourth-choice forward” in the squad, behind Franco Mastantuono, Vinícius Júnior and Gonzalo García. He stated that he accepted the situation, adding that he attempted to contribute as much as possible during the time he was on the pitch. He also said he had been ready to start the match from the outset, while respecting the coach’s decision and intending to work to regain his place.

Arbeloa, however, directly denied this account during his post-match press conference. He stated that he had never described Mbappé as a fourth-choice forward and suggested that the player may have misunderstood the conversation. He further added that such a description would not be possible in his view.

The coach also commented on team selection, stating that it would not have been normal to immediately restore a player to the starting line-up after he had recently returned from injury and had not been involved in the squad just days earlier. He emphasised that selection decisions remained his responsibility.

The fixture was Real Madrid’s first home match following their loss of the league title race to Barcelona. Mbappé had previously missed El Clásico due to injury. During his rehabilitation period, he also took a short authorised break, which drew criticism from supporters and sections of the Spanish media.

Addressing this, Mbappé confirmed that the leave had been approved by the club and acknowledged the reaction from fans, stating that their dissatisfaction was understandable.

He also reflected on Real Madrid’s season, noting that the team had started strongly but had lost consistency in the second half of the campaign, along with its established playing structure.

Match and incident summary

Real Madrid are set to conclude the season without a major trophy. The club has also experienced a managerial change during the campaign, with Xabi Alonso replaced by Álvaro Arbeloa. Mbappé stated that he has no issues with the coach and expressed his intention to work harder to regain a place in the starting team ahead of his teammates.