Arbeloa addresses tension with Kylian Mbappe amid staff discontent

Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has moved to ease tensions with Kylian Mbappe following the French star’s public frustration over being benched against Real Oviedo.

“I just saw him and told him to relax. It might seem like news, but what he said is something I’d already discussed with him,” Arbeloa explained. “I take it in stride. I know what it’s like to play every day and then not play. I understand them. I know he wasn’t happy, and I like that. I wouldn’t understand if Kylian didn’t want to play,” he added.

However, reports from Spain suggest the incident has caused deeper concerns within the club. According to The Athletic, Real Madrid staff under Arbeloa were reportedly very unhappy with Mbappe’s reaction to being left out of the starting lineup.

The situation has escalated to the point where club president Florentino Perez is expected to meet with Mbappe to seek clarification about the matter. This latest controversy adds to a growing list of off-field issues that have plagued Real Madrid throughout the season, creating additional pressure on both management and players during a challenging campaign.