Real Madrid Turmoil Over Mbappé Intensifies Ahead of MRI on Clásico Status

Overview

• Real Madrid postponed a planned evaluation and scheduled an MRI to decide Kylian Mbappé’s availability for the upcoming match against Barcelona.
• Reports from The Athletic, cited in Spanish outlets, say Mbappé had a heated dispute with a member of Álvaro Arbeloa’s staff during a training session at Valdebebas before the Betis game.
• An online petition from supporters calling for Mbappé’s exit has surged, with some reports now citing totals in the millions of signatures.
• Mbappé’s representatives issued a statement to AFP calling recent coverage an exaggerated interpretation and stressing that his injury recovery is supervised daily by the club.
• The tension grew after he traveled to Cagliari with actress Ester Expósito during his thigh rehab, even as he has produced 41 goals in 41 games and teammates like Vinícius Júnior have taken on a larger leadership role.