Real Madrid’s late win in Elche, sealed by Carlos Espí in stoppage time, carried an additional point of attention before kick-off as both sides emerged wearing shirts in support of Ceuta.
The message on the shirts read “Todos somos caballas”, a reference to the autonomous city after a large-scale arrival of people from Morocco there at the end of July. Elche’s players had already put on the shirts before walking out, while Real Madrid’s were handed theirs in the tunnel.
Most of Madrid’s squad wore the garment, but Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior and Konaté did not display it in the same way. Mbappé and Vinicius took the shirts and placed them across their shoulders rather than fully wearing them, while Konaté held his in his hands.
The Frenchman and the Brazilian removed the shirts shortly afterwards, before the pre-match greetings. The episode was visible in the match coverage and quickly became a talking point around the game.
Madrid see no issue in individual choice
Real Madrid do not attach significance to the differing responses. The club’s view is that players should be free to decide whether they wish to wear a particular message, or not wear it.
Madrid also point out that the support shirt was displayed by the overwhelming majority of their players, distinguishing the collective gesture from the individual decisions involving the three footballers.
