Kylian Mbappe faces Real Madrid fans’ anger before Villarreal visit

Kylian Mbappe is set to face a hostile reception from Real Madrid supporters when Villarreal visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, with the France forward under pressure after a difficult period on and off the pitch.

Mbappe suffered an injury while playing for France against Turkey in the Nations League and returned to Madrid for treatment. However, his decision to travel back to France, along with messages he posted on social media, has created further controversy during the international break.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Mbappe is now attempting to rebuild his relationship with the Real Madrid fanbase after a series of inconsistent performances in recent weeks.

The report says the forward is seeking to do so through the most direct means available to him: returning to training with the club and making his fitness a priority, something he had seemingly neglected recently.

Mbappe joined his team-mates for training on Wednesday and was described as being in good physical condition ahead of Saturday’s fixture, which marks the return of La Liga following the international break.

He had made a brief trip to Paris on Tuesday afternoon to attend a charity event before returning to the Spanish capital in the early hours of Wednesday. Despite that journey, he trained normally and appeared relaxed and cheerful during the session.

Mourinho is expected to make the final decision on whether Mbappe starts shortly before the match. Although all indications point towards the Frenchman being included in the starting line-up, uncertainty remains because of the controversy surrounding him in recent days.

Mourinho, who is understood to possess greater authority and executive power than any individual player in the dressing room, has yet to address the events surrounding Mbappe. That includes the bicycle incident which attracted considerable attention.

If the manager ultimately comments on the situation in the build-up to the Villarreal match, the circumstances around the player could change.

Real Madrid supporters are also expected to make their feelings known after the events of the international break and those that preceded it. The defeat in the Madrid derby remains a significant source of frustration, while the incident in Elche involving Ceuta supporters’ shirts has also not been forgotten.

Unless there is an unexpected development, the Bernabeu crowd could show clear hostility towards Mbappe and other members of the squad on Saturday.

The defeat may have taken place some time ago, but Real Madrid’s supporters are not seen as a group that easily forgets such incidents. They believe the players still have issues to settle with them, and Mbappe in particular is expected to be at the centre of that scrutiny.