At the Stade de France, where former internationals and figures from across the French game gathered for Belgium’s visit, Kylian Mbappé was not there. The France captain’s absence has become part of a wider debate after his injury, his public appearances and a growing wave of criticism around his situation at Real Madrid.
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Mbappé was injured while on France duty in Turkey on 25 September, in a 1-0 defeat. Since then, attention has shifted away from the pitch after he was seen leaving a Paris nightclub and later posted an Instagram video of himself riding a bicycle.
The bicycle post was widely read as an answer to recent criticism. It also drew particular attention because José Mourinho had reportedly told his players not to cycle in order to reduce the risk of injury.
Real Madrid supporters have reacted negatively to the sequence of events, with television presenter Josep Pedrerol warning that Mbappé could be losing their affection. Pedrerol’s intervention was interpreted by Daniel Riolo as a significant message from within the Madrid hierarchy, given his perceived closeness to club president Florentino Pérez.
Riolo said the comments should not be dismissed as routine punditry. In his view, the public reaction reflects an attempt by Real Madrid to make Mbappé understand the scale of the concern around him.
Riolo questions Mbappé’s direction
The French commentator said he was beginning to wonder whether Mbappé still had the same desire for football, arguing that the forward had repeatedly made choices which intensified criticism rather than calming it.
Riolo also raised questions over the lack of clarity surrounding the injury. He contrasted Mbappé’s current image with the one he felt the player projected during the World Cup, when he appeared happy around his friends and gave a positive impression.
He suggested that the Ballon d’Or pursuit had contributed to a change in Mbappé’s communication, including tension involving France teammate Ousmane Dembélé. Riolo said Mbappé was handing ammunition to his critics and sending an increasingly poor message.
Mbappé did not attend France’s 1-1 draw with Italy at the Stade de France on Friday, nor Monday’s 4-1 win over Belgium at the same venue. Riolo accepted that an injured player cannot be expected to follow every international gathering, but believed the Belgium match offered an opportunity for the captain to support his team-mates in public.
Instead, he argued, Mbappé’s decisions created the impression that he was distancing himself from the France set-up, remaining away from Madrid’s spotlight while still being seen after a nightclub visit and sharing the cycling video.
Questions around his entourage and Madrid future
Riolo said he could not understand how Mbappé’s public image was being managed or why nobody close to the player appeared to be intervening. He suggested the pressure around football, expectations and a recent high-profile sponsor change may be affecting him.
He also mentioned changes in Mbappé’s private life, including his relationship with actress Ester Expósito, while stressing that the player was entitled to live freely outside football.
For Riolo, the issue is whether Mbappé is becoming detached from the demands surrounding him. He warned that Pedrerol’s remarks, if they do reflect sentiment at the top of Real Madrid, could even point towards the possibility of Mbappé leaving at the end of the season.
