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Kylian Mbappe faces fan backlash at Real Madrid over Sardinia trip and viral pictures, as an online petition grows.
Kylian Mbappe in action against Real Betis (Picture credit: AP)
Star France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is facing massive backlash over his trip to Sardinia, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, even as he recovers from a hamstring injury with the El Clásico looming large.
For many Real Madrid fans, Mbappé’s trip to Italy, taken during rest days granted by the club to injured footballers, including Thibaut Courtois and Arda Güler, proved to be the final straw.
Unified by a shared picture, posted by a satirical account, showing Mbappé with a “Fuera (out)” stamp over his face, many Real Madrid fans have started calling for him to leave, with the post even circulating in the comments section of the club’s official handles.
An online petition has been circulating on social media as well, requesting Real Madrid fans to ‘make their voices heard’. It calls on supporters to take a stand, stating that those who believe change is needed shouldn’t stay silent but sign the petition to back what they feel is best for the club’s future.
The situation escalated further after images of Mbappé with actress Ester Expósito surfaced on social media, just as Real Madrid were gearing up for a crucial La Liga clash against RCD Espanyol in a bid to delay Barcelona’s title celebrations.
Real Madrid went on to win the game 2-0, after which coach Álvaro Arbeloa defended his footballers, stating that each individual is free to use their personal time as they see fit and that it was ‘none of my business’.
But multiple of Arbeloa’s comments were perceived as Mbappe’s indirect criticism.
“We did not build Real Madrid with players who play in tuxedos, but with players who finish matches with shirts full of sweat and mud, through effort and sacrifice,” Arbeloa said.
Madrid is ‘a club where, fortunately, no player has ever been, is, or ever will be bigger than Real Madrid’, added Arbeloa.
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