NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Real Madrid have been rocked by reports of internal unrest as senior stars Kylian Mbappé and Antonio Rüdiger were involved in separate heated clashes.
Heading into a decisive El Clásico against Barcelona, the timing of these locker room pushes left the atmosphere at Valdebebas at an all-time low.
Rüdiger triggers a confrontation in the locker room
The first signs of trouble emerged in April when veteran defender Rüdiger was allegedly involved in a heated argument with a teammate at the club’s training ground.
Athletics reports that the Germany international was the instigator of the confrontation, which further destabilized a team already reeling from their Champions League exit to Bayern Munich.
While the defender later apologized and attempted to make things right by inviting the team and their families to a team lunch, the incident set a tense tone for the final weeks of the season.
Despite this flashpoint, Rüdiger has not been subject to any official internal sanctions, although the event remains a significant topic of discussion in the club’s inner circles as they prepare for a high-stakes trip to Catalonia.
Mbappé clashes with the technical staff
The tension was not limited to the playing staff, as Mbappé found himself in the middle of a dispute with a member of Alvaro Arbeloa’s coaching staff.
The Frenchman reportedly reacted with fury during a training exercise targeting a member of staff acting as an assistant referee who had flagged him for offside.
Mbappe reportedly used “insulting terms” during the exchange, adding to the growing sense of friction between the superstar and the technical team.
This follows earlier rumors of a breakdown in relations between Mbappe and the coaching staff after he appeared frustrated during a recent substitution.
Controversial recovery trip sparks outrage
Mbappe’s decision to travel to Italy and Sardinia as he recovers from a hamstring injury has also become a major point of contention.
With his teammates cruising to a win against Espanyol, the striker’s escape was seen by many as a lack of commitment in a critical period for the club.
Some staff members have privately criticized the club for not taking a stronger stance on the player’s activities during his rehabilitation.
However, the players’ camp has hit back at what they perceive as unfair treatment.
In a statement, his representatives said: “Some of the criticism is based on an overinterpretation of elements linked 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.”
Arbeloa remains coy on Clasico availability
Arbeloa tried to downplay the drama, insisting that players are free to manage their own time. “In his free time, each player does what he wants and I don’t interfere,” the coach said.
He further clarified that “all planning regarding injured players is supervised and managed by Madrid’s medical staff, who are the ones who decide when they should travel to Valdebebas and when they should not.”
Despite the public show of support, reports suggest Arbeloa is privately unhappy with how the hierarchy handled the situation. The focus now turns to whether the club’s top scorer will be fit for Sunday’s showdown at the Camp Nou.
