According to The Athleticthe atmosphere surrounding Mbappe has become so suffocating that the 27-year-old forward is unwilling to step onto the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu for the remainder of the campaign.
The France national team captain is reportedly tired of the consistent booing and whistling from Madrid supporters and has decided to sit out the club’s final two home fixtures against Real Oviedo and Athletic Bilbao.
Kylian Mbappe reacts during Real Madrid’s Champions League group stage match against Benfica at the Da Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 28, 2026. Photo by Reuters |
Mbappe’s availability was already uncertain due to a hamstring issue. While the club’s medical team deemed him unfit for most of the week, the striker surprisingly joined the final training session ahead of the crucial El Clásico against Barcelona on Sunday.
Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa tentatively included him in the squad, but Mbappe abruptly left the session shortly after, citing discomfort. Consequently, he was dropped from the squad for the El Clásico the following day.
This sudden withdrawal frustrated the coaching staff at the Valdebebas training center. Without a clear understanding of Mbappe’s true fitness levels, they were unable to build a stable tactical plan for the most important game of the season.
Without their top scorer, Real Madrid suffered a 0-2 defeat at Camp Nou, forcing them to watch their arch-rivals clinch the La Liga title for the second consecutive season.
Tension surrounding Mbappe escalated during the match due to his social media activity. The forward posted an Instagram story showing his TV screen with the caption “Hala Madrid.” However, the post was published when Madrid was already trailing 0-2, a move considered by fans and media as tone-deaf and calculated, receiving negative reactions from some staff and players.
If Mbappe refuses to play, it will mark a bitter conclusion to his second season at Madrid. Despite leading the club in goals, the 2018 World Cup champion is discovering that success at Madrid requires overcoming immense mental pressure, not just delivering on the pitch.
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