The injured forward went on vacation during his free time, but this did not protect him from criticism — the team's head coach Álvaro Arbeloa was forced to defend him.
It turned out that Mbappé injured the tendon under his kneecap during the match against Real Betis (1:1) on April 24. The club has not yet provided exact information on when he will return to the squad. Some sources say the forward may not play again until the end of the season, while others suggest he could participate in the Clásico against Barcelona on May 10.
At the same time, it became known that the French star went to the city of Cagliari in Italy with his girlfriend, actress Ester Expósito. According to Marca and L'Équipe, this decision has further complicated the atmosphere within the team.
Reports indicate that Mbappé's relationships with some teammates, including Vinícius Júnior, have also cooled. Those at the club did not consider such a trip appropriate during the recovery process.
Fans are also heavily criticizing the situation. Madrid supporters have even started a petition demanding the club's management to remove Mbappé from the team. Over 14 million people signed it within two days.
However, according to Diario AS, after returning to the team, the footballer came to the training base on his days off to work with physiotherapists. He will undergo an MRI scan in the coming days, after which his participation in the Clásico will be clarified.
Arbeloa defended the player:
— Mbappé, like any other footballer, can do whatever he wants in his free time. We need every player. 'Real' does not win in tuxedos, but in sweat-and mud-soaked shirts, — said the specialist.
Meanwhile, Vinícius, who scored a brace in the match against Espanyol, is becoming the team's main leader.
Another interesting piece of news: according to journalist François Gallardo, Mbappé's mother and agent Fayza Lamari allegedly issued an ultimatum to club president Florentino Pérez to sell Vinícius in the summer.
Currently, 'Real' is in second place in the league table with 77 points, and the championship title could be decided in the Clásico.
