Mbappé Explains His Role at Real Madrid After Victory Over Oviedo. Kylian Mbappé commented on his position in the Real Madrid line-up and the fans' attitude after the match against Oviedo. The forward emphasized that he did not take the criticism personally. There has been internal debate at the club about his status.
In Madrid, after Real Madrid's 2-0 victory over Oviedo, Kylian Mbappé found himself at the center of attention not only because of his performance, but also due to his unexpected role in the team. The forward, who was met with whistles at the Santiago Bernabéu, publicly commented for the first time on his place in the squad and the fans' attitude.
Mbappé stated that he ended up on the bench because, in the coach's view, he was only the fourth striker in the team hierarchy. According to him, he gave up his spot in the starting lineup to Mastantunu, Vini, and Gonzalo. However, the coaching staff, particularly Arbeloa, later denied this claim, noting that Mbappé had not been called the fourth forward.
The footballer emphasized that he does not take the fans' criticism as a personal insult. In his opinion, the whistles in the stands are part of football life, and this had happened to him before. Mbappé added that he always tries to help the team, even coming off the bench, and considers it important to respect the coach's decisions.
During his conversation with the press, Mbappé also commented on his recent trip to Italy, emphasizing that the visit had been approved by the club. He noted that he was not the only player to receive permission to leave and expressed confidence that the situation would not affect his position in the team.
Separately, Mbappé spoke about his physical condition, stating that he is fully ready to play despite the knee injury that sidelined him in the second part of the season. He noted that the difference between the first and second halves of the championship was evident precisely because of health issues.
Mbappé dismissed questions about a possible departure from Real Madrid, stressing that he is happy at the club and sees no reason to change teams. He also expressed respect for club president Florentino Pérez, calling him the best executive in Real Madrid's history.
Within the team, according to Mbappé, there are no conflicts with Arbeloa. The forward said he does not follow the coach's press conferences, as he watches French television at home instead of Spanish. He also commented on the situation with leaving the training center, stating that he was unaware of the details because he was undergoing treatment.
The season has been difficult for Real Madrid: the team failed to win trophies, although in the first part of the championship they showed consistent play. Mbappé admitted that the team will have to accept criticism and work on their mistakes in order to come back stronger next year.
Interest in Spanish football remains high: demand for tickets to major matches, as shown by the recent semifinal in Dubai between Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli, is reaching record levels — details about the ticket situation for international matches can be found in our report.
For reference: Kylian Mbappé joined Real Madrid in 2025 and has since become one of the club's most talked-about players. His contract runs until 2028. In the 2025/26 season, Mbappé scored 18 goals in all competitions despite a long-term knee injury.
