Kylian Mbappé has come under renewed criticism from sections of Real Madrid CF supporters after video footage appeared to show the French forward leaving training in a cheerful mood amid growing unrest inside the club.
The controversy comes during a turbulent period for Real Madrid, with reports of internal tensions escalating ahead of the highly anticipated El Clásico against FC Barcelona.
According to reports, a serious altercation broke out on Thursday between French midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and team captain Federico Valverde inside the Real Madrid dressing room.
The confrontation reportedly ended with Valverde being taken to hospital only days before the crucial league encounter with Barcelona in the 35th round of La Liga.
Amid the fallout, cameras captured Mbappe leaving the club’s training complex appearing to laugh moments after the incident, despite what reports described as an atmosphere of anger and confusion among players, supporters and club officials.
Spanish media question Mbappe’s reaction
The footage was circulated by the Spanish account “el chiringuito tv” on the social media platform X and quickly became a major talking point among fans.
Spanish newspaper Sport reacted strongly to the images, writing: “He seems far removed from all of that and happy to be back with the team. He is living a parallel reality inside the dressing room.”
The publication added that “the pictures of his laughter increased the sense of surrealism of what is happening inside Real Madrid.”
Reports also highlighted Mbappe’s close relationship with Tchouaméni, his teammate in the France national football team, who was one of the players involved in the reported confrontation with Valverde.
Mbappe was reportedly among the first players to leave the sports complex after a broad internal meeting held to address the growing controversies and tensions surrounding the club during the closing stages of the season.
The French forward also underwent medical examinations that reportedly increased optimism regarding his availability for Sunday’s match against Barcelona.
Growing criticism from supporters
The 27-year-old has already faced criticism in recent days after travelling to Italy for a holiday with his partner while Real Madrid were preparing for an important match against RCD Espanyol.
Real Madrid won that fixture 2-0, delaying Barcelona’s hopes of securing the league title.
However, criticism from supporters intensified after Mbappe’s latest appearance outside the training ground, with some fans interpreting his behaviour as a sign of detachment from the club’s current difficulties.
Reports suggested frustration among sections of the fan base has now reached the point where some supporters are calling for the player to leave the club after the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.
Pressure builds before decisive clash
The situation adds another layer of pressure to Real Madrid ahead of one of the most important matches of their season.
El Clásico arrives at a time when the club is already dealing with internal uncertainty, public criticism and growing scrutiny over dressing room harmony.
The latest controversy surrounding Mbappe has further intensified discussion around the atmosphere inside the squad, with Spanish media continuing to question the unity and focus of the team during the final weeks of the campaign.
Attention will now turn to Sunday’s showdown with Barcelona, where Real Madrid will attempt to put recent off-field distractions behind them in a fixture that could prove decisive in the race for the La Liga title.
