Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1142 EAT on Friday 15 May 2026

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé has said head coach Álvaro Arbeloa told him he was the “fourth forward” in the squad before being benched against Real Oviedo.

The France captain returned from a thigh injury in a 2-0 win over Oviedo on Thursday, but his introduction as a 69th-minute substitute was met with whistles from sections of the home crowd at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where supporters appeared frustrated despite the victory.

Real Madrid fans have criticised top scorer Kylian Mbappé in recent weeks over a perceived lack of commitment, amid questions about his fitness after he missed last weekend’s El Clásico, where FC Barcelona beat Madrid to clinch the La Liga title.

Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa named an attacking line of Vinícius Júnior, Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García against Real Oviedo, with Mbappé having gone nearly three weeks without playing.

“I am very good, at 100 percent. I didn’t play because the coach told me that for him I’m the fourth forward of the squad, behind Mastantuono, Vinícius and Gonzalo,” Mbappé told reporters after the match.

Despite starting on the bench, the France captain registered an assist after setting up Jude Bellingham—also introduced as a substitute—for Madrid’s second goal in a 2-0 win.

“In the end, I accept it [being on the bench], and I play the time I had to play,” he added.

Supporters had also expressed frustration over Mbappé’s recent trip to Sardinia while recovering from injury.

However, the striker defended the decision, insisting he had club approval.
“I had the club’s permission to be away from Madrid. I wasn’t the only one, but you have to accept it and move on. I can easily turn this situation around,” Mbappé said.

Álvaro Arbeloa has defended his decision to bench Kylian Mbappé, suggesting there may have been a misunderstanding over the forward’s situation.
“Maybe he didn’t understand me well. I don’t know what to tell you,” Arbeloa told reporters.

“For me it’s very clear that a player who four days ago couldn’t even make the bench for a match shouldn’t start today, especially because this isn’t a final, it’s not a life-or-death game.
“Also because we’ve got a game on Sunday where he’s definitely going to be the first-choice forward, as I told him.”

Arbeloa said he could understand Mbappé’s frustration, noting the France captain—who has scored 41 goals in 42 appearances this season—was unlikely to be pleased with the decision.

“I can perfectly understand that Kylian Mbappé isn’t happy today about not playing, but it’s a decision based, as I said, on the circumstances and I didn’t want to take any kind of risk,” the coach added.
Real Madrid have endured a turbulent season, with former coach Xabi Alonso replaced by Arbeloa in January.

With FC Barcelona having already secured the La Liga title, Los Blancos are set to finish a second consecutive season without a major trophy, while club president Florentino Pérez has reportedly called for internal elections.

-Aljazeera

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