Alvaro Arbeloa has pushed back after Kylian Mbappe claimed he had been treated like Real Madrid’s fourth-choice striker.
The issue started after Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Oviedo, when Mbappe said he was fit to start but had fallen behind other attacking options.
That created an immediate controversy. Arbeloa did not let the claim sit for long, making it clear that Mbappe had misunderstood their conversation.
Kylian Mbappe’s confusion gets a firm Alvaro Arbeloa response
As GOAL reported, Alvaro Arbeloa denied ever telling Kylian Mbappe he was Real Madrid’s fourth striker.
“I wish I had four strikers. I don’t have four strikers, and I certainly didn’t say anything like that to Mbappe. He probably didn’t understand me.
“I don’t really know what to tell you. I could never have told him he’s the fourth striker,” Arbeloa said.
That answer directly challenged Mbappe’s version of events. The French forward had suggested he was behind Franco Mastantuono, Vinicius Junior and Gonzalo Garcia in Arbeloa’s attacking order.
Arbeloa’s response framed it as a communication issue rather than a formal demotion.
The situation still matters because Mbappe was booed by sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd after coming on in the 69th minute, adding more pressure to an already sensitive moment.
Alvaro Arbeloa says Real Madrid decision was about timing
Arbeloa then explained that the choice was based on Mbappe’s recent availability, not a permanent change in status.
“It’s clear that if I don’t play him, he can’t play. I’m the coach, and I’m the one who decides who plays and who doesn’t. I had a conversation with him before the match,” he continued.
I don’t know how he might have interpreted it. A player who wasn’t on the bench four days ago shouldn’t have started today. It’s not a final, it’s not a do-or-die situation,” Arbeloa concluded.
That was Arbeloa’s clearest justification. Mbappe had recently dealt with injury concerns, and the coach did not think it made sense to rush him straight into the starting lineup.
The explanation also reinforced Arbeloa’s authority. He made it clear that selection decisions belong to the coach, even when the player involved is one of Madrid’s biggest stars.
For Mbappe, the message is simple. He has not been publicly demoted, but he still has to earn his way back into Arbeloa’s starting plans.
Read more:
