Mbappé booed at the Bernabeu after coach told him he was 'fourth choice'
On a night when Real Madrid still hoped to keep their La Liga title race alive, the club's marquee signing Kylian Mbappé spent the match in the warm-up zone. The France captain was named on the bench for the visit of Real Sociedad to the Santiago Bernabeu by new head coach Álvaro Arbeloa and was not introduced.
Every time Mbappé jogged along the touchline to warm up, sections of the home support whistled. Other parts of the stand chanted his name. Real Madrid won 2-1; Mbappé did not appear on the pitch, only his third time in La Liga this season without a minute played.
Speaking to journalists in the mixed zone afterwards, Mbappé answered in a measured tone. "The coach was straightforward. He told me I was the fourth choice. That is his prerogative," the forward said. "I am a footballer. If I am called on, I play."
Árbeloa, a former Real Madrid defender who had spent two seasons coaching the club's B team, was promoted to the first-team role this campaign after Carlo Ancelotti's surprise resignation. Arbeloa's preferred attacking shape places Vinicius Jr. on the left, Endrick at centre-forward and Rodrygo as a second striker. Per Mbappé's account, those three sit ahead of him in the pecking order.
Mbappé joined Real Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer and finished his debut campaign as the club's top scorer in La Liga with 22 goals. Reports through the season have suggested he was uncomfortable with positional changes under the new manager; Friday's non-appearance turned that speculation into a public event.
Arbeloa's post-match remarks were brief. "My decisions are taken with the whole squad in mind. The starting eleven was selected on that basis tonight; Kylian was professional and supported the team," the coach said. He added that rotation would continue until the season's final whistle.
Club president Florentino Pérez watched from the directors' box. He did not speak to journalists, though club press officers said the situation was being handled "strictly as a sporting decision." Pérez told a club assembly last month that Mbappé's contract ran to 2029.
Mbappé is named in France's squad for the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Germany on June 6. Speaking on Friday, head coach Didier Deschamps described the situation in Madrid as "a normal club matter" and said Mbappé would start for France whenever the team next played.
Real Madrid have two league fixtures left. They sit second, two points behind Barcelona. The title race could still go to the final week, but the mood inside the Bernabeu after full-time was focused as much on the summer transfer market as on the standings.
No update on Mbappé's longer-term plans was given on Friday. Neither the player's representatives nor the club referenced any possibility of a departure. Mbappé ended the brief interview by saying: "I have a contract. The decisions are the club's. I respect the coach's choice."