Madrid has watched Kylian Mbappé make an electric start on the pitch, with eight goals in his first eight appearances of the season, but the French forward’s weeks away from the Bernabéu have brought an unwelcome strain around the club.
Mbappé returned to Real Madrid training on Wednesday and is expected to be included for Saturday’s home meeting with Villarreal. His fitness is encouraging after a knee problem suffered during the international break, yet two public appearances during his recovery have generated concern inside the Spanish side.
A difficult spell beyond the goals
- Mbappé sustained a knee injury while away with France during the international window.
- While recovering, he was seen during a night out at a Paris nightclub.
- On another occasion, the 27-year-old posted footage of himself riding a bicycle in Switzerland.
- He subsequently reported back to Madrid, completed training and showed sufficient physical condition to be considered for Villarreal’s visit.
The issue is not his availability for the weekend alone. The manner of those appearances while he was dealing with a physical complaint has unsettled the club, particularly at a moment when Madrid are seeking to restore a winning rhythm after two disappointing seasons.
Ballon d’Or remarks add to scrutiny
There has also been friction around Mbappé’s repeated focus on the Ballon d’Or. The forward discussed the award frequently and became involved in a debate with France team-mate Ousmane Dembélé shortly before the latest international break.
In comments made in September, Mbappé argued that he had a strong case for the individual prize despite Real Madrid not winning team trophies in his first two campaigns. He said he had long been viewed as a player destined for such recognition and pointed to his standing as the World Cup’s leading scorer, having moved beyond Lionel Messi’s total in football’s biggest tournament.
Those remarks were not received well in Madrid, where collective success remains the priority. The club’s difficult domestic start has intensified the spotlight on Mbappé, his senior team-mates and coach José Mourinho.
Villarreal test in the capital
Real Madrid sit fourth in La Liga after seven rounds, six points behind leaders Barcelona. Mbappé’s scoring return has been one of the few clear positives, but it has not prevented pressure building around the team’s early position.
The forward joined Madrid in June 2024 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent and is contracted to the club until 2029. Provided there is no late setback, he will be part of the squad when Villarreal arrive in Madrid on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 Brasília time.
