Madrid: France captain Kylian Mbappe has acknowledged that he is currently considered the fourth-choice forward at Real Madrid under the management of Alvaro Arbeloa. This admission came after he was left out of the starting lineup in Thursday’s 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo.
Mbappe, who recently returned from a hamstring injury, was also benched during Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Barcelona. He entered the match against Oviedo in the 68th minute, with Arbeloa opting to start Vinicius Junior and Gonzalo Garcia in attacking roles.
The French striker emphasized that his absence from the starting eleven was not due to fitness issues. “I’m fully fit. I haven’t been selected because the coach currently ranks me as the fourth striker behind Franco Mastantuono, Vinicius, and Gonzalo,” Mbappe explained. “I was prepared to start, but it’s the coach’s decision, and that must be respected.”
He further stated, “I have no issues with Arbeloa. It’s important to accept the coach’s approach, and I need to improve to earn a spot ahead of Vini, Gonzalo, and Mastantuono.”
Mbappe has faced criticism from some fans following reports that he traveled to Sardinia during his recovery period, although he clarified that the club had approved the trip.
Meanwhile, Arbeloa defended his decision to limit Mbappe’s playing time, noting that the striker should not be rushed back into the starting lineup after missing the Barcelona match. “I spoke with him before the game, and I’m not sure how he interpreted that conversation,” Arbeloa said. “From my perspective, a player who was unable to even sit on the bench four days ago should not start today, especially since this isn’t a final or a do-or-die match.”
In a significant development, Arbeloa confirmed that Mbappe is expected to return to the starting lineup for Real Madrid’s upcoming match against Sevilla on Sunday.
