Arbeloa backs Mbappe amid holiday backlash

A wave of criticism over Kylian Mbappe's off-field conduct has drawn a strong defence from Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa. The French forward has been sidelined since April 24 with a left thigh injury, yet his absence from the pitch has not kept him out of the Spanish headlines. Mbappe was recently photographed on a getaway to Sardinia with his partner during a weekend when Real Madrid faced Espanyol. Although the club sanctioned the trip, supporters and pundits questioned the optics of the star vacationing while his teammates competed.

Arbeloa reminded critics of the sacrifices Mbappe made to join the Spanish capital club. "As for Mbappe, I think all Madrid fans know what efforts he had to make to join Real Madrid," Arbeloa said at a press conference. "He had absolutely everything at his previous club. He had to give up a lot of things to be at the club of his dreams. We all saw him as a child in the Real Madrid tracksuit."

Maintaining authority and dismissing tension

The timing of the trip has been sensitive given the current atmosphere at the club. With Los Blancos struggling to keep their trophy ambitions alive in the final stretch of the season, every move by the squad is heavily scrutinised. Arbeloa was firm that he maintains full control over the group and that his decisions on player downtime should be respected. "I feel like I have all my authority," Arbeloa added. "Real Madrid players, like everyone else, must feel that the coach has authority, whatever his name. We must respect it. This is the most important thing for a player."

Beyond the holiday drama, social media has buzzed with speculation about the mood within the camp. Images of Mbappe smiling during a training session this week were widely circulated, with some suggesting it was inappropriate given a reported tense exchange between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde. Arbeloa dismissed these narratives as outside noise. "Anyone who interprets a player’s smile after training out of context, I repeat… that is a misinterpretation," he assured the media. He insists the team remains focused on internal goals rather than external narratives.

Return for El Clasico

The debate comes as Real Madrid prepare to travel to Barcelona this Sunday. A victory for the Catalan giants would see them crowned La Liga champions at the final whistle. Madrid are desperate to delay their rivals' celebrations and keep their own slim mathematical hopes alive. There is light at the end of the tunnel regarding Mbappe's fitness, with suggestions he could be ready to return for the trip to Barcelona. Having the Frenchman back on the field would provide a massive boost to a side that has looked disjointed in recent weeks. Whether he starts or features from the bench, all eyes will be on the former PSG man to see if he can silence his critics with a match-winning performance.