Madrid’s international-break unease has centred on Kylian Mbappé, whose return from France duty after an injury against Turkey was followed by a short period away from the Spanish capital. The sequence has drawn criticism from sections of the Real Madrid support, although the forward has not publicly addressed those complaints.
A dispute over Ballon d’Or claims
- Mbappé was injured while representing France against Turkey and returned to Madrid.
- After coming back, he left to take several days of rest, prompting a negative reaction among some Madrid followers.
- The France captain then responded online to a separate claim that he had been angered by Real Madrid’s refusal to promote his Ballon d’Or case during derby week.
The allegation was that Mbappé had asked the club to make a concerted effort in support of his individual award bid, and that Madrid had declined. It was further suggested that his display in the derby reflected frustration over that decision.
The same account claimed that Mbappé also sought help from Zinedine Zidane, who was said to be unable to intervene because Ousmane Dembélé was also involved in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Mbappé’s Instagram reply
Mbappé dismissed the story with a sarcastic response beneath an Instagram post repeating the claims. “Yes, of course — and I was angry with my great-aunt too,” he wrote, adding laughing-face emojis.
It was his first public reaction during a break that has left questions in Madrid less about the injury itself than about the mood surrounding the forward’s departure for time away.
