A footballer relaxing on a boat with his girlfriend, feet dangling in the water, seems harmless. Yet such innocent images from a star’s Instagram nearly sparked a crisis at Real Madrid, with some fans now calling for Kylian Mbappé to be sold.
The forward remains the crown jewel of the new Galácticos. This season, he has netted 41 goals in 41 competitive matches, scored in both Champions League quarterfinal legs against Bayern, found the back of the net in the Clásico league win over Barcelona, and remains in contention for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Despite those numbers, a fan petition demanding his sale was reported by TNT Sports last week, claiming 30 million signatures.
While the reliability of that figure is highly questionable, Mbappé has once again stirred fan emotions. The latest controversy erupted after he took a vacation in Italy roughly a week ago—even though he was nursing an injury.
Reports flooded in, with critics arguing he wasn’t fully committed to his recovery. El Mundo and AS wrote that Real Madrid were surprised by this behavior, and teammates reportedly reacted with disbelief, especially at a critical moment when Barcelona are closing in on the title. In today’s Clásico against the Catalans, the league trophy could be decided.
Isolated at Real?
Mbappé is said to have simply replied, “My body, my decision.” Journalist Jorge Picon added fuel on Tuesday, suggesting not everyone believes Mbappé was genuinely injured. This is not the first time this season the striker has taken such a break.
The uproar highlights how every minor incident involving him is met with intense scrutiny. Picon previously mentioned a real crisis between club and player, while L’Equipe claimed Mbappé is becoming increasingly isolated within the squad—he doesn’t track back enough, and teammates feel he receives too many privileges. The Athletic added that there was an altercation with a coaching staff member after an offside call during a training drill, where he was reportedly disrespectful.
On the other hand, AS pushes back, stating there are no doubts about Mbappé at Real and that he simply needs better tactical integration. The player himself is aware he must adapt more and is willing to do so. Fabrizio Romano confirmed there are no discussions about letting their biggest star go, noting that while the situation is not easy, the relationship is far from broken.
What is truth and what is fiction is hard for outsiders to judge. But the fact remains: Mbappé has not won a major trophy in his two years since arriving in Madrid. Critics point to Paris, where PSG won the Champions League for the first time after his departure and are now back in the final. So, does Mbappé actually make his teams worse despite his goals? Is he too dominant, too much of a diva, or too weak defensively?
“It’s not just Mbappé”
Romano added a crucial sentence that may explain everything: “It’s a complicated moment for Real Madrid, but it’s not just Mbappé.”
This is likely the heart of the problem. Constant unrest surrounds the entire club right now—public clashes between then-coach Xabi Alonso and Vinícius Júnior, a fierce dressing-room bust-up between Antonio Rüdiger and Á…