Kylian Mbappé has openly expressed frustration over his current role at Real Madrid after revealing that manager Álvaro Arbeloa informed him he has now fallen to fourth position in the club’s attacking hierarchy.
The French superstar made the revelation after Real Madrid’s comfortable victory over Real Oviedo, a match in which Mbappe was left on the bench despite recently returning from injury.
Speaking after the game, the former Paris Saint-Germain forward admitted he was disappointed by the decision but insisted he would continue working hard to regain his place in the starting lineup.
Mbappe explained that Arbeloa personally informed him before the match that he was no longer among the club’s top attacking options, with the coach reportedly preferring Vinícius Júnior, Gonzalo García and Franco Mastantuono ahead of him.
The striker said he initially expected to start the match after recovering from his thigh problem, only to discover he had slipped further down the pecking order.
According to Mbappe, while he may not agree with the decision, he respects the authority of the coach and plans to respond by improving his performances and training intensity.
The French captain also appeared to take a subtle swipe at criticism surrounding his playing time earlier in the season. He recalled how some people previously argued that he needed rest during the Copa del Rey campaign because he was playing too many matches, only for the club to suffer an embarrassing elimination against lower-division opposition.
Mbappe suggested that despite the criticism directed at him, the team’s struggles cannot be blamed solely on his performances.
The forward also dismissed interest in Arbeloa’s public comments during press conferences, saying he does not follow Spanish television coverage and mainly watches French channels at home.
Despite remaining Real Madrid’s top scorer this season, Mbappe has faced growing criticism from sections of supporters who believe his overall commitment and work rate have dropped in recent weeks.
The disappointing campaign has further increased tension around the club, with Madrid on course to finish a second consecutive season without winning a major trophy after FC Barcelona secured the league title following last weekend’s El Clásico triumph.
Questions are now also being raised about Arbeloa’s future at the Santiago Bernabéu amid growing reports linking former manager José Mourinho with a sensational return to the Spanish giants.
