Kylian Mbappe’s most recent outing was in last month’s 1-1 draw with Real Betis
Cristina Quicler/AFP via Getty Images
Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Real Madrid, our weekly series tracking the 2025-26 La Liga season. We deliver key insights and analysis on the biggest storylines, cutting through the noise with reliable reporting based on multiple conversations with sources at the club, all of whom spoke anonymously to protect relationships.
So, what’s happening with Kylian Mbappe?
The French striker was left out of the Madrid squad that suffered a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona on Sunday night, a result that handed their Clasico rivals a second straight La Liga title.
Instead of being at the stadium, the 27-year-old watched the match from his home in Madrid. An Instagram Story he posted during the game stirred controversy—a simple photo of his TV screen with a caption backing his teammates. Because he shared it while Madrid trailed 2-0, it drew criticism. But the unfortunate truth is that nothing around Mbappe is straightforward right now, given the mounting scrutiny.
From the locker room to the boardroom, there is growing disappointment with Mbappe across multiple levels of the club. To grasp why, we need to look back.
Kylian Mbappe, seen training with Madrid on Saturday (Oscar del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images)
Mbappe last played for Madrid in a 1-1 La Liga draw at Real Betis on April 24, when he asked to be substituted due to a hamstring issue.
He was given time off to recover, but a trip to Italy with his partner was not well received internally, especially since he did not return to Madrid until just before kick-off of the team’s match at Espanyol on Sunday, May 3.
During the following week leading up to the crucial Clasico, there was confusion about whether Mbappe would be available.
Toward the end of the week, the club hoped Mbappe would be ready to face Barcelona. The reality was different.
In fact, medical staff had deemed him unfit to play all week. On Saturday, he did take part in the final team training session before the game. But on Sunday morning, he was left out of the squad.
Alvaro Arbeloa said after Sunday’s match that he would have liked Mbappe to play (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa had planned the week with other players in mind. During Saturday’s session, Mbappe was placed with the theoretical substitutes for the Camp Nou match. Sources say he left shortly after, citing discomfort.
This frustrated training ground staff, who felt they lacked control over the situation.
The Athletic contacted Mbappe’s representatives for comment, but they declined.
On Sunday night, after Madrid’s 2-0 loss, Mbappe’s Instagram post was received negatively by club staff and teammates.
On Monday, Mbappe added another Instagram Story—a selfie from the gym at Madrid’s training ground, on what was a day off for the rest of the first team.
Mbappe’s selfie from the Madrid training ground on Monday (@k.mbappe)
Last week, The Athletic also reported on a training-ground altercation between Mbappe and a member of Madrid’s coaching staff in the build-up to the April 24 Betis game. Sources said that incident contributed to a worsening atmosphere at the club.
In response to questions about that incident and wider criticism of the player, Mbappe’s camp issued a statement: “A por” (meaning “Go for it”).