Arbeloa-Mbappé: a new war breaks out in the Real Madrid locker room

BarcelonaAfter the confirmation of a blank season, with the defeat in the classic against Barça at the Camp Nou, the players, the coach, and the president of Real Madrid had to answer to the fans. And the Bernabéu delivered its verdict. Well, partially, because Madrid's stadium had the lowest attendance of the season in the inconsequential duel against an Oviedo that is already relegated to the Second Division. It didn't help that it was San Isidro's festivities and the poor results of Álvaro Arbeloa's team. But the spectators responded with whistles, especially towards Kylian Mbappé, and also with banners directed at Florentino Pérez, who lately doesn't have a moment's peace.

But the big fire occurred at the end of the match. Mbappé, who was a substitute and came on to play in the second half, received a good scolding from the fans. Afterwards, he decided to speak in the mixed zone and decided to lash out at the coach. "He told me I'm the fourth striker." The Frenchman said he "was ready to start" and, with an ironic gesture, added that he had to "work to be better than Vini, Mastantuono, and Gonzalo," this Thursday's attacking trio. The outburst didn't end there, and, directly attacking Arbeloa, he said that "in the first part of the season we had structure as a team and now we don't," a way of saying he liked Xabi Alonso more.

A few minutes later, Arbeloa came out to the press room without knowing what Mbappé had said. The situation was uncomfortable and the coach got out of it as best he could. "I have no problem with [referring to Mbappé], I'm not clear what he must have understood to say these things. I understand he's not happy about not playing as a starter, but he's coming off an injury and I find it normal," he commented, totally surprised, improvising. "I wish I had four forwards, I don't know what to tell you, because I don't have four forwards nor have I said anything similar. He must not have understood it well, I don't know what to tell you, I haven't told him he's the fourth forward," he added. "If I don't play him today it's because he can't play after the injury, of course, I'm the coach and I decide who plays and who doesn't. Four days ago he couldn't even go to the bench and today's game wasn't a final. He will be the starting forward in the next match, as I told him, I have no problem with anyone".

And all this, on a day when much of the interest, however, was to see how the Santiago Bernabéu would react after Florentino Pérez's decision to call elections with an outlandish press conference on Tuesday. When the builder came out to the box, a good part of those present applauded him. Others, booed him. And in fact, when he was greeting one of the fans who was nearby, he reproached him for his management, which led to a somewhat tense conversation between the two. The anthem was playing and Pérez was gesturing with the partner, with whom he had a conversation for almost a minute. In general, the reception for the president was better than a few days ago against Levante, when there were chants asking him to leave. Against Oviedo, these chants were not heard, but the tension was evident in a match where the PA system sounded louder than usual to try to protect the players.

Once the match had started, two banners appeared where you could read "Florentino guilty" and "Florentino go now". Security personnel removed them, which caused moments of tension, as some fans tried to prevent it. One of the two banners appeared when the players were coming out onto the pitch and a second one in a corner with the match already started, something that could be seen live on television, as the idea was to show it when the ball was in that area.

Outside, the internal debate within madridismo also became evident. In the area of the more radical fans, the Ultras Sur, who have not been able to access the stadium for years, a banner was unfurled showing Florentino in a Barça shirt. These radicals, expelled from the stadium years ago, chanted insults at the constructor. In other areas near the stadium, scarves were put on sale that read "Florentino, the best president in history". Some bought them, but most of those present preferred not to spend money. Against Oviedo, the aim was to whistle at the players and remind Florentino that madridismo is not entirely satisfied with his management.