Kylian Mbappe says Real Madrid fans’ criticism was ‘natural’

Kylian Mbappe has played down the significance of being booed by Real Madrid supporters last season, saying he understood their frustration after joining the club.

Speaking to French newspaper L’Equipe, the France forward said criticism at the Santiago Bernabeu was an expected part of playing for Real Madrid.

“These things happen naturally,” Mbappe said. “Do you know how many players have been booed in Madrid? They are all still alive, aren’t they?

“When you join Real Madrid, you know what you are getting into. It did not affect me that much. After that, I understand that the fans express their dissatisfaction.”

Mbappe was also asked whether France had developed an inferiority complex against Spain, but rejected that suggestion.

“No,” he said. “We made a mistake in the way we dealt with the start of our match against them in the World Cup. The penalty was a turning point because not much had happened before it.”

He added: “When you go behind against a team that likes to have possession, things become more difficult. We did not know how to reset ourselves.

“In any case, the tournament was positive. We managed to make the French people dream and made them feel proud. That is also a victory.”

Mbappe was referring to France’s approach against Spain and the impact of conceding the opening goal. He said the team struggled to adapt once Spain took the lead, but maintained that the overall experience had been a positive one for the country.

The 2026 World Cup was also mentioned during the interview in relation to racism he said he had experienced from a senator in the Paraguayan Senate.

Mbappe said he had received support from the Paraguayan government, France president Emmanuel Macron and other French institutions.

“I had the support of the Paraguayan government, as well as President Emmanuel Macron, with whom I was in contact, and the support of all the institutions,” he said.

He then addressed comments attributed to Michel Platini about the need to accept everything.

“We were talking about what Michel Platini said, about the need to accept everything,” Mbappe said. “Well, I do not accept these things.

“I have no problem showing that in 2026 we still have people in important positions who display exceptional incompetence. We will always have the energy needed to fight against that.”