Jose Mourinho hasn’t even signed his Real Madrid contract yet, but he’s already got one big problem.
AS report that the Benfica coach has been surprised by ‘Kylian Mbappe’s attitude’, particularly his bizarre attack on Alvaro Arbeloa this week.
Mbappe’s 2025/26 season has been a PR disaster, from ordering Xabi Alonso off the pitch during Barcelona’s Supercopa celebrations to holidays with his girlfriend.
Recently his lack of commitment has been has been attacked by the Madrid media and even the fans, with Mbappe missing the Clasico with ‘muscle strain’.
His return last time out saw boos, to which he replied with a grin, and then he attacked Arbeloa in a post-match mixed zone session.
Mbappe praised Xabi Alonso’s work and said that Arbeloa told him he was fourth-choice striker at Madrid.
Arbeloa was being relayed the comments at the same time and was clearly absolutely baffled, as were much of the media.
It now appears that Mourinho is too, ahead of inheriting a dressing room that’s seen multiple fights leaked to the press.
Yet Arbeloa tried to calm things ahead of one of his final matches in the dugout against Sevilla.
Asked about Mbappe, he said: “I was just coming up here and I saw him. I told him to relax, that I’d take care of it.
“I understand that these things might seem like news. Everything Kylian said in the mixed zone is something I’d already discussed with him.
“I see it as much more natural because, as I always tell my players, I’ve been there. I understand how players feel in all situations. I know what it’s like to play every day, I know what it’s like to play less, I know what it’s like not to play at all…
“I understand how players feel when they’re not playing, I understand it perfectly.
“I know Kylian wasn’t happy the other day, and I like that. I wouldn’t understand if Kylian Mbappe didn’t want to play for his team, even in a situation like this.
“For me, it’s much more normal than it’s been made out to be. I think that given his situation, the best thing for me was for him to play a bit in the second half so he could play on Sunday.
“Perhaps without tomorrow’s match, the situation would have been different. But that’s all.
“I see what’s happened these past few days as perfectly normal. My relationship with Mbappe remains the same.”
Asked if he was annoyed Mbappe took the fraction to the media, he was similarly as dismissive.
“Whenever I speak with the players, I’m not afraid they might discuss or share any of the conversations we’ve had,” he said.
“When we speak privately, I prefer to keep it private, but I don’t mind if they make a conversation they’ve had with me public.
“I spoke with him before the match, and what I explained to him, I also explained to you, and there’s no problem.”
Finally on the subject, Arbeloa was quizzed on Mourinho taking over a dressing room in chaos.
He responded: “I don’t understand this talk about an ungovernable dressing room; I don’t agree with it. That’s not how I would describe the Real Madrid dressing room.
“The day the club makes a decision about next season’s coach, they will announce it when they deem it appropriate.
“For me, as a player and especially as a Madridista, Mourinho is number one. I thought that a month ago, and I still think it.
“Jose is and always will be ‘one of us’. If he’s here next season, I’ll be very happy to see him back home.”
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