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Real Madrid have been rocked by reports of internal unrest as stars Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rüdiger were involved in separate heated clashes.
With a decisive Clásico against Barcelona just around the corner, the timing of these outbursts in the locker room has left the atmosphere in Valdebebas at its lowest point.
Rüdiger provokes confrontation in the locker room
The first sign of trouble emerged in April when veteran defender Rüdiger was reportedly involved in a heated argument with a teammate at the club’s training ground.
The Athletic reports that the German international was the instigator of the confrontation, further unsettling a team already reeling from their elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich.
While the defender later apologized and attempted to make things right by inviting the team and their families to a team lunch, the incident set a tense tone for the final weeks of the season.
Despite the flashpoint, Rüdiger has not faced any formal internal punishment, although the event remains a major topic of conversation within the club’s inner circles as they prepare for a high-risk trip to Catalonia.
Mbappé clashes with the coaching staff
The tension has not been limited to the playing staff, as Mbappé found himself in the middle of a dispute with a member of Álvaro Arbeloa’s coaching staff.
The Frenchman allegedly reacted angrily during a training exercise against a staff member acting as assistant referee who had flagged him for offside.
Mbappe reportedly used “insulting terms” during the exchange, adding to the growing sense of friction between the superstar and the coaching team.
This follows earlier rumors about a breakdown in relations between Mbappe and the coaching staff after he appeared frustrated during a recent substitution.
Controversial recovery trip sparks outrage
Mbappe’s decision to travel to Italy and Sardinia while recovering from a hamstring injury has also become a major point of contention.
While his teammates achieved victory against Espanyol, the striker’s escape was seen by many as a lack of commitment in a critical period for the club.
Some staff have privately criticized the club for not taking a stronger stance on the player’s activities during his rehabilitation.
However, the player’s camp has responded to what they perceive as unfair treatment.
In a statement, his representatives said: “Some of the criticism is based on an overinterpretation of elements related to a recovery period strictly supervised by the club, and does not reflect the reality of Kylian’s commitment and daily work for the team.”
Arbeloa is shy about the availability of the Classic
Arbeloa has tried to downplay the drama, insisting that players are free to manage their own time. “In their free time each player does what they want and I don’t get involved in that,” said the coach.
He also clarified that “all planning regarding injured players is supervised and managed by Madrid’s medical team, which is the one who decides when they should go to Valdebebas and when not.
Despite the public show of support, reports suggest that Arbeloa is privately unhappy with the way the hierarchy has handled the situation. Attention now focuses on whether the club’s top scorer will be fit to face Sunday’s game at the Camp Nou.
