![\"Mbappe](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275755700-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWelcome to the latest edition of Inside Real Madrid, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga\u2019s 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n
Each week, 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.<\/p>\n
The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at Madrid, all of whom spoke anonymously to protect relationships.<\/p>\n
Why are tensions rising again between Mbappe and Arbeloa?<\/p>\n
Kylian Mbappe and Alvaro Arbeloa were at the centre of one of the most talked-about moments after Thursday\u2019s 2-0 win against already-relegated Real Oviedo.<\/p>\n
They were involved in an indirect public exchange that felt more like something you might expect from a pair of rivals \u2014 and Mbappe\u2019s words have caused annoyance among Madrid\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old France striker was left out of the starting XI but came on in the 69th-minute. He stopped to speak with reporters on his way out of the stadium after the game \u2014 an unusual occurrence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m doing great, 100 per cent,\u201d he said when asked whether he was fit to start. \u201cI didn\u2019t play because the coach told me that, for him, I\u2019m the fourth striker of the team, behind Mastantuono, Vini, and Gonzalo. I accept that. I can\u2019t be mad at him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soon after, Arbeloa began his press conference. The first six questions were about Mbappe\u2019s comments \u2014 which he had not heard \u2014 and their relationship.<\/p>\n
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\n Kylian Mbappe prepares to come on for Madrid in the 69th minute on Thursday (Oscar del Pozo\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\u201cHe must have misunderstood me, at no point did I say he was the fourth-choice striker,\u201d Arbeloa said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA player who four days ago wasn\u2019t even fit enough to make the bench for a match shouldn\u2019t have started today,\u201d he added, referring to Mbappe\u2019s absence from Sunday\u2019s Clasico defeat.<\/p>\n
Mbappe was not included in the squad for that game at Barcelona due to injury but \u2014 as The Athletic reported earlier this week \u2014 there was discontent within the club at various levels, including among Arbeloa and his staff, over the striker\u2019s conduct in the build-up.<\/p>\n
Sources said Mbappe had not been deemed fit to train until the day before the match. Then, when he was placed in a group among the planned substitutes, he pulled out of the session with discomfort<\/a>. Mbappe\u2019s representatives declined to comment on the situation.<\/p>\n According to a source with knowledge of the matter, Arbeloa and Mbappe spoke on Thursday before the Oviedo game, with the player expressing his displeasure at being benched and the manager expressing his own displeasure regarding his behaviour in recent weeks.<\/p>\n Mbappe had also attracted internal criticism over a decision to take a trip to Italy with his partner while he was recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered at Real Betis on April 24 \u2014 his most recent appearance for Madrid before Thursday night, when he also said the club had given him permission for that break.<\/p>\n Why were banners removed from the Bernabeu?<\/p>\n These are truly extraordinary times at Real Madrid.<\/p>\n The team are stumbling to a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy, something which had not happened since 2009-10, after an incredibly dramatic season that has included several scarcely believable flashpoints \u2014 such as last week\u2019s dressing-room fight between midfield duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde \u2014 during which the latter was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, president Florentino Perez announced a snap election.<\/p>\n The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu was the image of Madrid\u2019s difficult season. There were 62,774 spectators, the second-lowest attendance this term. Jeers and whistles were directed toward the players and Perez.<\/p>\n Two banners criticising the president and calling on him to leave were quickly removed by stadium security<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n Florentino Perez was also jeered by some Madrid supporters at the Bernabeu in January (Angel Martinez\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Mbappe received the loudest boos. Spanish TV showed his mother and agent Fayza Lamari reacting to the jeers with laughter in the stands.<\/p>\n What does the election mean for Madrid\u2019s Mourinho talks?<\/p>\n Unlike at Barcelona, Madrid\u2019s statutes do not require Perez to stand down from his position<\/a> while an election is prepared. For that reason, there is no technical reason stopping the club from continuing with key business off the pitch.<\/p>\n The Athletic reported last week that talks have been held with Jose Mourinho\u2019s representatives<\/a> over replacing Arbeloa as manager. The Portuguese 63-year-old, who led Madrid from 2010-13, is Perez\u2019s favoured candidate for the role and this is the only option being actively pursued \u2014 despite the fact other voices within the club were not entirely convinced.<\/p>\n Through his agent Jorge Mendes, the Benfica coach has outlined his ideas to Madrid. Among them, according to a source familiar with the matter, is bringing in several members of his own staff. Another source said he asked for defensive reinforcements.<\/p>\n Benfica are keen to extend Mourinho\u2019s contract and on Friday morning the manager confirmed his agent had received a renewal offer but said he \u201cdid not want to see or analyse it\u201d until Sunday, after the team\u2019s final game of the season.<\/p>\n Mourinho\u2019s deal in Lisbon runs until 2027, but it has a \u20ac3million (\u00a32.6m; $3.5m) release clause that can be activated within 10 days of the end of their season. Third-placed Benfica play at Estoril Praia on Saturday, with city rivals Sporting CP two points ahead in second, which comes with a spot in next season\u2019s Champions League. This means the exit clause can be triggered before May 26.<\/p>\n \n Jose Mourinho\u2019s Benfica are third in the Portuguese top flight with one game remaining (Filipe Amorim\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n On Thursday, Madrid clarified the process for this year\u2019s election. The club said candidates had until May 23 to declare their intention to stand. If no rival candidate comes forward to rival Perez, he will be re-elected president on May 24.<\/p>\n Sources close to Vinicius Junior said Mourinho\u2019s potential arrival would not be seen as a problem by the player.<\/p>\n![\"Fans](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276272683-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Mourinho](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275165514.jpg\")
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