A petition calling for Kylian Mbappé to depart Real Madrid has exploded in popularity, amassing over 19 million signatures in just 24 hours. The petition emerged amid growing criticism of the French forward in Spain ahead of the highly anticipated Clásico match.
The petition's creators urged fans to take action, stating that if they believed a change was necessary, they should not remain silent. They encouraged supporters to sign and defend what they considered best for the club's future. The signature counter reportedly surged from nearly 14 million to over 19 million between Wednesday afternoon and evening.
However, the legitimacy of these numbers has come under serious scrutiny. Multiple online users and experts have raised concerns that the signature count appears to be artificially inflated. One football community member on X, known as "Gio CR7," provided screenshots suggesting the petition's code was designed to make signatures increase at a constant rate, describing it as a "counter in a loop to inflate the numbers."
The platform hosting the petition, Replit, has also faced criticism for being less stable and traceable than other established petition sites. Security researcher SaxX demonstrated the platform's vulnerabilities to Le Parisien, explaining that he was able to cast 100 votes in less than one second. He further noted that basic artificial intelligence tools could easily circumvent the petition's supposed restrictions against multiple signatures.
The timing of the petition is particularly significant, as it coincides with mounting pressure on Mbappé in the Spanish media. The former Paris Saint-Germain star has faced intense scrutiny since his high-profile move to the Santiago Bernabéu, with critics questioning his early performances and adaptation to La Liga.
Real Madrid fans remain divided on the issue, with some defending the 25-year-old's talent while others express impatience with his integration into Carlo Ancelotti's system. The petition, regardless of its authenticity, reflects the passionate and sometimes volatile nature of football fandom at the highest level.
Based on reporting from Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continu.