Mbappé faces backlash over Sardinia trip as petition circulates before Clasico | OneFootball

Hamstring injured, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé spent club approved rest days in Sardinia, angering sections of the fanbase and stirring a media storm five days before the Clasico with Barcelona.

Supporters shared a meme of the striker crossed out with a Fuera stamp beneath Real’s official posts, and some demanded his exit. An online petition urges Madridistas to make their voice heard, Le Progres reports.

The furore followed photos of Mbappé with actress Ester Expósito circulating as Real prepared for Sunday’s key Liga match with Espanyol. After the 2-0 win, coach Alvaro Arbeloa said players manage their free time and that it was not his concern, remarks some read as indirect criticism. He also underlined that Real prize effort and that no player is bigger than the club.

Mbappé’s camp say parts of the backlash overinterpret a club supervised recovery period and do not reflect his daily commitment. In April, on Aurélien Tchouaméni’s podcast The Bridge, he said he expects criticism whatever he does and prefers to act true to himself.

With 41 goals in 41 games this season, he remains Real’s most decisive player. Since mid March he has drawn heavy flak for perceived individualism, and Spanish media suggest he is increasingly isolated amid frustration at a second Madrid season without a major trophy. After Sunday, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham both stressed togetherness, comments some fans and observers took as hints of a rift.

Source: Le Progres