Real Madrid’s preparations for a crucial El Clásico against Barcelona have been severely disrupted by a series of reported internal incidents that have reportedly created a toxic atmosphere within the squad, according to The Athletic.
Among the most serious allegations is that star forward Kylian Mbappé insulted a member of the coaching staff during a heated altercation at the club’s Valdebebas training complex. Mbappé’s representatives have not explicitly denied the confrontation took place, an omission that has only intensified scrutiny on the French international and deepened divisions within the dressing room.
A separate incident, also reportedly occurring in April at Valdebebas, saw 33-year-old German centre-back Antonio Rüdiger physically slap teammate Álvaro Carreras during an argument. The two incidents, taken together, paint a picture of a club under significant internal strain at a pivotal moment in the domestic season.
The tension surrounding Mbappé was further inflamed by a trip he took to Sardinia, Italy, accompanied by his girlfriend, actress Ester Expósito, while he was supposed to be recovering from a semitendinosus muscle lesion in his left leg — an injury sustained before he was substituted in the 81st minute of Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Real Betis on Friday, April 24. Mbappé landed back in Madrid on Sunday, reportedly just minutes before the club’s 2-0 win over Espanyol kicked off.
According to reports, the Sardinia trip caused “confusion and unease” among his teammates and triggered significant online backlash. In response, Mbappé’s camp released a formal statement defending his actions, claiming the controversy stemmed from an “over-interpretation of elements related 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.”
The club’s domestic campaign has already lost considerable momentum. The 1-1 draw with Real Betis, the same match in which Mbappé picked up his injury, was a damaging result that handed further initiative to Barcelona in the LALIGA title race. Madrid are now managed by Álvaro Arbeloa, and his side must win the forthcoming El Clásico to prevent Barcelona from clinching the league title in the fixture itself.
Mbappé joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, arriving as one of the most high-profile signings in the club’s recent history. His debut season has been marked by inconsistency and injury, and the latest off-field reports will add further pressure on the 26-year-old as Madrid attempt to finish the campaign on a positive note.
With El Clásico now serving as both a title-defining fixture and a test of dressing room cohesion, the coming days will be telling for Arbeloa’s ability to manage the fallout and field a united squad against their fiercest rivals.
