Mbappe gives explanations: "I did not want to prioritize sufferings"

The French star has spoken out after refusing to fully show a t-shirt in support of Ceuta

Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior lift their shirts so as not to show a slogan of solidarity with the population of Ceuta before the match.
ARA
17/09/2026 - 08:20 h.
1 min

Kylian Mbappé breaks his silence after the controversial gesture in the prelude to the match between Elche and Real Madrid, when he and Vinícius refused to fully show the support shirt for Ceuta that the players of both teams were wearing. As the French star has assured in an interview with the newspaper As, although he has consideration for the people of Ceuta, he also wants to take into account the thousands of people who crossed the border into Spain last July 30th. "The first thing I want to say is that I have full solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims. Because before being a player, I am a human being. But I also wanted to have a gesture and a thought for all the immigrants who have lost their lives and who are also in harsh conditions," he stated.

Thus, Mbappé has acknowledged that he found himself in a "difficult" situation, not only because the decision to wear the shirt was made by the clubs themselves, but also because he was aware that with this gesture people might think that he was "against the people of Ceuta." "I have nothing against them and I support them 100% [...]. But I also wanted to have a thought for all the people who are suffering, and because I did not want to prioritize sufferings," he insisted. Broadly speaking, then, the French star has explained that the only message he wants to give is one of "positivity and peace." "I hope this is resolved quickly," he concluded.

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