Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will meet with Kylian Mbappe in the coming days to address the growing unrest surrounding the forward, according to AS reporter Jose Felix Diaz. This follows Mbappe’s recent comments where he described himself as the ‘fourth-choice striker’ under interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa and praised former coach Xabi Alonso, actions that have angered supporters and fractured the dressing room.
The situation escalated after images emerged of Mbappe on holiday in Sardinia while recovering from injury, prompting an online petition with over 70 million signatures calling for his departure. He was also jeered by fans during his recent return to the pitch against Real Oviedo, where he came on as a substitute in the 68th minute.
Perez intends to rectify the ‘fracture’ between Mbappe and Arbeloa, with concerns growing over the player’s behaviour and perceived detachment from the squad. Some teammates reportedly feel targeted by Mbappe’s actions. Despite the turmoil, the club views Mbappe as a ‘cornerstone’ of their long-term project, but Perez has demonstrated a willingness to make difficult decisions, citing the past departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos as evidence that ‘nobody is regarded as untouchable.’
The incoming manager, Jose Mourinho, has been tasked with ‘restoring discipline’ to the squad and will be central to resolving the Mbappe situation. Mourinho will also address other issues, including fractured partnerships within the team. While the club is prepared to back Mourinho in making ‘drastic decisions,’ a sale of Mbappe is currently considered unlikely. Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has advised his former club to steer clear of Mbappe, citing a lack of team spirit and work rate, qualities Meulensteen believes are essential for success under managers like Luis Enrique or Pep Guardiola.
Mourinho has already acknowledged the difficult position Arbeloa finds himself in, and will be expected to rebuild Mbappe’s relationship with the fans and integrate him back into the team dynamic.
