Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has opened up on his current situation at the club after revealing that he is now considered the fourth-choice forward under manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
The French captain made the statement after Real Madrid defeated Real Oviedo 2-0 on Thursday night, with Mbappe starting the game from the bench before coming on in the 68th minute.
Speaking after the match, Kylian Mbappe insisted that his fitness was no longer an issue following his recent hamstring injury. The forward explained that Arbeloa preferred to start Vinicius Junior and Gonzalo Garcia in attack, while also ranking Franco Mastantuono ahead of him in the squad.
“I’m 100% fine. I haven’t played because for the coach I’ve been the fourth striker in the squad behind Mastantuono, Vini and Gonzalo,” Mbappe told reporters.
The Real Madrid forward added that although he was prepared to start the match, he respects the manager’s decision and understands the need to improve in order to reclaim his place in the starting line-up.
Kylian Mbappe has faced criticism from sections of Real Madrid supporters in recent weeks, especially after reports emerged that he travelled to Sardinia during his recovery period.
The Frenchman, however, clarified that the trip was approved by the club. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa also addressed the situation after the match, denying claims that he directly informed Mbappe he was the club’s fourth-choice attacker.
According to Arbeloa, it would not have been reasonable to start the striker only a few days after he was unavailable for the El Clasico defeat against Barcelona.
The Real Madrid boss, however, confirmed that Mbappe is expected to return to the starting line-up for Sunday’s La Liga clash against Sevilla.
The latest comments from Kylian Mbappe have sparked fresh debate among football fans, especially as expectations remain high following his much-publicized move to Real Madrid. Many supporters will now be watching closely to see how the French superstar responds in the coming games.
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