Kylian Mbappe’s representatives have moved to quell criticism of the Real Madrid striker and highlighted his “commitment and daily work for the team”.
The France international is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained against Real Betis on April 24 and fighting to be fit for Sunday’s El Clasico clash with arch rivals Barcelona at Camp Nou.
But rather than stay with the Madrid camp and focus on his recovery, Mbappe was pictured over the weekend relaxing on a yacht off the coast of Sardinia with his girlfriend Ester Exposito.
Critics have suggested that, given his influence within the squad, the 27-year-old should have accompanied his team-mates for the 2-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday that just about kept their slim La Liga title hopes alive.
Madrid head back to Catalonia this weekend to face a Barca side that can clinch the title with a draw.
It remains to be seen if Mbappe will play but his representatives defended him today with a statement that read: “A portion of the criticism is based on an over-interpretation of elements related to a recovery period strictly supervised by the club, and does not reflect the reality of Kylian’s commitment and daily work for the team.”
Mbappe controversy the latest act in a season of misery for Real Madrid
Mbappe has scored 41 goals in 41 games in all competitions this season but it looks like his efforts will go unrewarded with Madrid almost certain to finish without a trophy.
Madrid has looked a largely unhappy club for much of the campaign with Xabi Alonso’s short tenure ending in January amid claims of dressing-room unrest while his successor Alvaro Arbeloa seems certain to leave this summer after failing to oversee an improvement.
The Athletic were also reporting this morning that there have been two major arguments at the club in recent weeks. The first involved Antonio Rudiger and an another unnamed player in the dressing room and the second seeing Mbappe launch a volley of abuse at a member of the coaching staff after a dispute in training.
Arbeloa has been left to cope with the aftermath and knowing only a win on Sunday will salvage any pride from a largely woeful campaign.
He was asked about Mbappe’s decision to go on holiday after the Espanyol game, and said: “In their free time, each player does what they see fit, and I don’t get involved in that.
“All planning regarding injured players is supervised and managed by Madrid’s medical staff, who are the ones who decide when they need to go to Valdebebas [the club’s training centre] and when they don’t.”
Madrid waiting to see if Mbappe can play at Barcelona
Madrid’s chances of claiming a shock win this weekend would be enhanced greatly by having Mbappe fit but Arbeloa says he doesn’t know if the former Paris Saint-Germain man will make it.
“We’ll see how Mbappe is this week,” he added. “After last week’s tests, it looked as though it might take a bit longer.”
