Real Madrid suffered a heavy 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday, confirming a trophyless season for the club. It has been a devastating campaign, and internal tensions at Valdebebas have only intensified in recent weeks.
Two separate fights erupted among players last week: Antonio Rudiger slapped Alvaro Carreras, while Aurelien Tchouameni’s clash with Fede Valverde left the latter hospitalized with a concussion. The dressing room has been at breaking point for some time, so the latest controversy came as no surprise.
Kylian Mbappe has been a major talking point at the Bernabeu. His recent off-field antics with girlfriend Ester Exposito have reportedly angered the club’s hierarchy, and fans are equally frustrated after he was left out of the squad for El Clasico.
Mbappe chose to remain in Madrid rather than travel with his teammates. He attempted to show support via social media, posting an Instagram story of himself watching the match with the caption “Hala Madrid.” However, he posted it when Alvaro Arbeloa’s side was already 2-0 down, thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres. This did little to appease the fanbase, with many taking to social media to voice their anger.
Mbappe’s situation is reaching a boiling point
It is fair to say Mbappe’s first two years at Real Madrid have been far from successful. Individually, he has performed well, but with the club failing to win any major silverware during this period, pressure has mounted on the Frenchman.
For now, there is no indication that Mbappe will leave Real Madrid, but if things do not improve, president Florentino Perez may face a tough decision regarding a potential sale.