Mark Hateley Blames Kylian Mbappé’s Ego for Real Madrid’s Trophy-less Season and Vinicius Junior’s Decline

Real Madrid’s season is unravelling on multiple fronts, and according to former AS Monaco and England international Mark Hateley, one man’s attitude lies at the heart of the club’s dysfunction — Kylian Mbappé.

Speaking to Get French Football News, Hateley delivered a pointed assessment of the French striker’s influence on the Spanish giants’ dressing room culture. “He has that ego, and that ego definitely didn’t work at PSG,” Hateley said. “I think a lot of trouble was caused behind the scenes, training ground incidents.”

Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid ahead of the 2024/25 season in one of football’s most anticipated transfers, is now heading into the final weeks of his second campaign in Spain with no major silverware in sight. The union, once heralded as the beginning of a new Galáctico era, has instead become a source of sustained controversy.

Hateley extended his critique beyond Mbappé’s temperament, drawing a direct connection between the striker’s arrival and the dip in form of Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior — previously one of the most consistent attackers in world football. “You’ve got Vinícius Jr., who hasn’t hit the numbers [since Mbappé joined]; why is that?” Hateley asked. “You put two and two together, and you get the answer.”

The former striker also argued that Mbappé’s “overall demeanour” and tendency to “throw a strop” make it exceptionally difficult for any manager to maintain the “tight unit” necessary to compete for a league title — an observation that carries additional weight given Madrid’s failure to mount a credible La Liga challenge this term.

The discontent is no longer limited to internal squad dynamics. Real Madrid supporters have launched what has become a record-breaking digital campaign calling for Mbappé’s departure. The “Mbappe OUT” petition, which was initiated on May 5, 2026, following reports of the striker taking a “romantic getaway” with his girlfriend while the team was struggling for results, has accumulated over 28.1 million signatures. That figure surpasses the previous global record of 19 million signatures held by the “Justice for George Floyd” petition, making it the most-signed online petition in recorded history.

The scale of fan opposition represents an extraordinary development for a player who arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu as arguably the most coveted footballer on the planet. Mbappé, who had long been linked with a move to Madrid during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, signed for the club on a free transfer and was widely expected to elevate an already formidable squad.

The situation at the club has been further complicated by separate reports of dressing room unrest and a training ground brawl involving teammates, with Real Madrid subsequently announcing decisions regarding players Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde in the aftermath of that incident, according to reports.

With the 2025/26 season drawing to a close and no major trophy secured, questions over Mbappé’s long-term future at the club are intensifying. Whether Real Madrid’s hierarchy moves to address the situation in the upcoming summer transfer window remains to be seen, but the combination of fan pressure, reported internal discord, and a below-par collective performance has placed the club at a critical crossroads.