Alvaro Arbeloa has shut down Kylian Mbappe’s claims over his current standing in the Real Madrid squad after the France superstar was booed by his own fans.
Mbappe was given a hostile reception from the Bernabeu crowd after making his comeback following a hamstring injury in Madrid’s 2-0 La Liga win over Real Oviedo.
The 27-year-old then bemoaned his situation at the club and claimed he had fallen down to fourth choice under interim boss Arbeloa.
“I’m 100% fine,” he said. “I haven’t played because for the coach I’ve been the fourth striker in the squad behind (Franco) Mastantuono, Vini[cius Jr] and Gonzalo.
“I was ready to start, it’s his decision and it always has to be respected. I have no problem at all with Arbeloa. You have to accept the coach’s philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono.”
But Arbeloa hit back at the claim, denying ever placing Mbappe in any order in the Real Madrid heirarchy.
“I wish I had four strikers,” Arbeloa said in response. “I don’t have four strikers, and I certainly didn’t say anything like that to Mbappe. He probably didn’t understand me. I don’t really know what to tell you. I could never have told him he’s the fourth striker.
“It’s clear that if I don’t play him, he can’t play. I’m the coach, and I’m the one who decides who plays and who doesn’t. I had a conversation with him before the match. I don’t know how he might have interpreted it. A player who wasn’t on the bench four days ago shouldn’t have started today. It’s not a final, it’s not a do-or-die situation.”
Mbappe missed Sunday’s 2-0 El Clasico defeat by Barcelona that saw their bitter rivals wrap up the league title with three games to spare, and his introduction in the 69th minute as a substitute for goal-scorer Gonzalo Garcia prompted widespread jeers from the Madrid fans.
Gonzalo had given the home side the lead in the 44th minute with a well-taken goal after bottom side Oviedo, whose are already relegated to the second tier, coughed the ball up cheaply on their right flank.
Mbappe, who earlier on Thursday was named in the France squad for next month’s World Cup, seemed undeterred by the boos, firing off a number of shots towards goal during his cameo appearance.
However, it was fellow substitute Jude Bellingham who netted Madrid’s second in the 80th minute to leave Madrid second in the table on 80 points, 11 behind Barcelona and 11 ahead of third-placed Villarreal with two games left to play.
Reuters contributed to this report
