Alvaro Arbeloa, the Real Madrid head coach, has publicly defended Kylian Mbappé after the French forward’s contentious visit to Italy sparked widespread debate. In a press conference, Arbeloa dismissed the criticism as overblown, arguing that critics are deliberately misinterpreting harmless moments.
"Taking a player leaving training with a smile out of context is completely exaggerated," Arbeloa said. "Some people are simply looking for ways to distort the facts." The coach stressed that every Real Madrid supporter understands the huge personal sacrifices Mbappé made to join the club.
"He had everything at his previous club but gave it up to fulfill his dream of playing for Real Madrid," Arbeloa noted. He recalled the iconic images of a young Mbappé wearing a Real Madrid tracksuit, underscoring the player’s long-standing connection to the club. The coach used that imagery to highlight the deep-rooted bond between player and club.
Turning to his own role, Arbeloa expressed confidence in his authority as manager. "I feel I fully exercise my authority. My job is to supervise the players in training and matches, and I have the necessary authority to coach Real Madrid." He added that players must respect the coach regardless of his name or contract length.
The controversy stems from Mbappé’s recent trip to Italy, which some interpreted as a lack of professionalism. Arbeloa’s remarks aim to quell the criticism and reaffirm the forward’s commitment to the club.
Based on reporting from Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continu.