Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has hit back at critics who questioned his dedication to recovering from injury, insisting he remains committed to returning to peak fitness. The Whites striker is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and remains a doubt for this weekend’s crucial showdown with Barcelona.
Hansi Flick’s side currently have an 11-point lead over their fierce rivals in second place and will hand the title to Barça on Sunday night at the Camp Nou if they avoid defeat. It’s been a turbulent season for Madrid, who are on the brink of ending the season empty-handed.
Mbappe has been one of Real’s standout performers this season, but he has drawn heavy criticism from some in the Spanish media after it was reported that he went on a trip to Italy with actress Esther Exposito last weekend while sidelined. Madrid supporters have questioned why Mbappe is “on vacation” ahead of this weekend’s Clasico, raising questions about the “seriousness of his rehabilitation”.
Nevertheless, Mbappe categorically rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing in a statement to The Associated Press. “Some of the criticism is based on a stretched interpretation of factors related to the recovery period, which will be strictly supervised by the club, rather than reflecting the reality of Kylian’s dedication and the effort he puts in every day for the team,” the statement read.
Some Real supporters believe that Mbappe is deliberately limiting himself in order to stay fit ahead of this summer’s World Cup with France. With just five weeks until tournaments begin in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Real have little chance to play between now and the end of the season.
Barcelona know they have a chance to win the title this weekend, but Madrid remain tight-lipped about Mbappe’s condition ahead of the game. Despite the growing criticism, some Spanish media outlets claim that Mbappe voluntarily visited Madrid’s training ground on his day off to prepare for this weekend’s match.
“Each player is doing what he sees fit in his free time, that’s not my concern,” Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa said on Sunday.
“We have not built Real Madrid with players who play in tuxedos, but with players who wear sweat and muddy shirts and finish games based on effort, sacrifice and perseverance,” he said, adding: “There is no greater player than Real Madrid.”
