Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Real Madrid, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season.
We will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Madridista with reporting you can trust.
The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at Madrid, all of whom spoke anonymously to protect relationships.
What’s going on with Kylian Mbappe?
Mbappe was absent from the Madrid squad that lost 2-0 at Barcelona on Sunday night, a result that wrapped up a second consecutive Liga title for their Clasico rivals.
The 27-year-old striker instead watched the game back at home in the Spanish capital, and an Instagram Story he posted during the game caused some controversy.
It was a simple photo of his TV screen with a caption supporting his team-mates. The fact that he posted it with Madrid already 2-0 down is what attracted some criticism. But the unfortunate reality is that nothing around Mbappe is that simple these days, such is the volume of noise that has built around him.
From the dressing room to the board, there is growing disappointment with Mbappe at various levels within Madrid. To understand why, we first need to rewind a little.
Kylian Mbappe, pictured in Madrid training on Saturday (Oscar del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images)
Mbappe last played for Madrid in the 1-1 draw in La Liga at Real Betis on April 24, when he asked to be substituted due to a hamstring problem.
He was given some days off during his recovery, but a trip to Italy with his partner did not go down well internally, especially as he did not return to the Spanish capital until shortly before kick-off in Madrid’s match at Espanyol on Sunday, May 3.
Over the next week of build-up to the decisive meeting with their Clasico rivals, there was confusion over whether he would be able to participate.
Towards the end of the week, there was hope coming out of the club that Mbappe would be fit to play against Barcelona. The reality was different.
In truth, Mbappe had been deemed unfit to play by the club’s medical staff over the whole week. On Saturday, he did train with the group in the final session before the game. On Sunday morning, however, Mbappe was not included in the squad.
Alvaro Arbeloa said after Sunday’s game that he would have liked Mbappe to play (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa had planned the week with other players, and during Saturday’s session, there was a point when Mbappe was placed with the theoretical substitutes for the match at the Camp Nou. Sources said Mbappe left the session shortly after that, saying he had felt discomfort.
This is what led to frustration among the training ground staff, who did not feel in control. The Athletic contacted Mbappe’s representatives for comment on this article, but they declined.
On Sunday night, after Madrid lost 2-0, Mbappe’s Instagram post was negatively received by Madrid staff and team-mates.
On Monday, Mbappe added another photo to his Instagram story following that shot of the TV screen — a selfie at the gym at Madrid’s training ground, on what was a day off for the rest of the first team.
Mbappe’s selfie from the Madrid training ground on Monday (@k.mbappe)
Last week, The Athletic also reported on a training-ground row between Mbappe and a member of Madrid’s coaching team in the build-up to that game at Betis on April 24, an incident sources said had contributed to a growing bad atmosphere at the club.
In response to questions about that incident, and wider criticism of the player, Mbappe’s camp replied with the following statement: “A portion of the criticism is based on an over-interpretation 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.”
The extent of that bad atmosphere was laid bare after the dressing-room fight between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde at the training ground on Thursday.
Should Madrid fans expect to see him play again this season?
Madrid still have three games to play in La Liga — at home against Real Oviedo on Thursday, away at Sevilla the following Sunday, and a final home match with Athletic Club the weekend after (the date for that game has not yet been confirmed).
In another sign of the mood around Mbappe within the club, one Madrid source said they believed he would like to avoid playing at the Bernabeu again this term, having already been jeered by home fans on more than one occasion.
Really, the answer is nobody in Madrid seems to know for certain when Mbappe will be back. There has been no direct communication on the matter from Mbappe himself or from the club’s medical staff via a statement on his condition — which Madrid tend to do.
That was reflected in Arbeloa’s post-match press conference at the Camp Nou on Sunday night.
“There are two weeks left and depending on how his discomfort evolves, we will see whether he can play,” the 43-year-old said.
“I would have liked him to be at 100 per cent and to be able to start.”
What’s the latest on Jose Mourinho?
After revealing that Jose Mourinho is president Florentino Perez’s favoured option to replace Arbeloa as manager, The Athletic reported last week that there have been talks between the Spanish club and the Portuguese coach’s agent, Jorge Mendes.
In these conversations, Mourinho, 63, outlined through Mendes his main ideas for the project.
Both parties will continue talks when the schedule allows it. Benfica are playing at home against Braga on Monday evening as they try to shore up second place in the Primeira Liga table and a place in next season’s Champions League.
Benfica are aware of the situation and are considering options to replace Mourinho in case he leaves.
Mourinho is under contract until June 2027, but there is a clause allowing him to depart within 10 days of the end of their season (on May 16) if a release clause of around €3million (£2.6m; $3.5m) is met.
