French footballer Kylian Mbappé voiced his frustration with Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa following the team’s 2-0 win over Real Oviedo in La Liga.

Gonzalo García and Jude Bellingham scored the goals, while Mbappé remained on the bench during the first half despite being fit.

When he was eventually subbed into the game, the former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward was greeted with loud boos from fans venting their displeasure.

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After the match, Mbappé told the media that he was unperturbed by the boos, noting that such reactions are normal when things don’t go well. He claimed he had wanted to start the game but was told by Arbeloa that he was now the fourth-choice striker.

“It’s an opinion. No one will die tonight. It’s normal… you don’t win and the fans criticize you, it happens at every club. If you don’t win, people can boo.
I was ready to start but Arbeloa told me I am the fourth striker now. It’s okay, we have to accept the decisions of the coach. I will be working even harder,” he said, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.

Arbeloa, however, sharply rebuffed the claims, insisting he never made such a comment to Mbappé.

“It never happened that I told Mbappé he’s our fourth striker. Maybe he misunderstood. I’ve never said it. As long as I’m in this chair, I am the one who decides who plays and who doesn’t. I do not care what their names are. If they like it, fine, and if not, they can wait for the next one,” Arbeloa stated.

This clash comes amid reports of tense moments in Real Madrid’s dressing room between players and coaching staff, following the club’s failure to win a major trophy over the past two seasons.

Amid the tensions, it is widely reported that José Mourinho could take over the club next season, with the aim of winning silverware and restoring Real Madrid’s image.

SB/JE

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