Arbeloa defends Kylian Mbappe smile amid dressing room storm

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has stepped in to defend Kylian Mbappe after a viral image showed the forward smiling shortly after a heated altercation between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in the dressing room.

Some fans and pundits used the photo to question Mbappe’s attitude, suggesting the Frenchman was not taking the situation seriously.

Arbeloa strongly rejected that narrative, insisting the moment had been taken completely out of context.

“To try to take the fact that a player is smiling out of context is to try to exploit a situation to twist things. Like Carreras smiling on the Espanyol pitch,” said the Spaniard. He stressed that Mbappe has sacrificed a lot to join his “dream club” and remains fully committed to Real Madrid.

“In Mbappe’s case, we know the effort he made to come to Real Madrid, he had everything at PSG and he gave up a lot to be at his dream club, and as I said before, I have perfect authority, I control what they do in training and I feel I have authority,” Arbeloa added, making it clear he has no doubts over the forward’s professionalism or dedication.