Alvaro Arbeloa has rejected Kylian Mbappe’s assertion that he had been relegated to being the ‘fourth-choice’ striker at Real Madrid, following the French forward’s comments after their 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo. Mbappe’s remarks came amid a wave of boos from sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd, further fuelling speculation about his role under Arbeloa’s management.

Mbappe voiced his frustration about his current standing in the team following the win against Real Oviedo. Having started the match on the bench, the 25-year-old addressed the media after the game, notably appearing in casual attire rather than club kit—an unusual move that caught attention. He claimed that he had fallen behind Vinicius Junior, Franco Mastantuono, and young talent Gonzalo Garcia in the attacking pecking order.

The forward’s comments immediately became a talking point, with Arbeloa being asked to respond during his post-match press conference. The Real Madrid coach firmly rejected Mbappe’s interpretation of their conversation, emphasising that he never made such a statement.

Mbappe, however, stood by his version of events, telling reporters that he was fully fit and suggesting that his exclusion was purely tactical. He said, “I’m 100% fit. I haven’t played because the manager told me I’m the fourth-choice striker behind Mastantuono, Vini, and Gonzalo. I was ready to play; it’s his choice, and you have to respect that. I’m not upset.”

Arbeloa was quick to clarify his stance, responding, “I wish I had four strikers. I don’t have four strikers, and I certainly didn’t tell Mbappe anything like that. Maybe there was some misunderstanding. I honestly don’t know what he meant, but I never said he’s the fourth striker.”

The manager further explained his decision-making process: “If I don’t select him, he doesn’t play. I’m the coach, and I decide who takes the field. We spoke before the match, and perhaps he interpreted our conversation differently. A player who wasn’t even on the bench four days ago couldn’t start today. It wasn’t a final or a must-win situation.”

Adding to the tension, Mbappe was met with boos and whistles from parts of the Bernabeu crowd when he began warming up and again when he came on in the 69th minute. The frosty reception reflects lingering discontent among supporters, especially after the forward’s injury-related absence and a much-discussed trip to Italy during his recovery period.

Addressing the negative reaction, Mbappe appeared calm, saying, “You have to take it as it comes. People are expressing their opinions. It’s not something to take personally. No one’s dying tonight. When you don’t win, fans always find someone to blame. It’s happened here at Real Madrid, and it happens everywhere else. That’s football.”

The back-and-forth between Mbappe and Arbeloa has drawn attention to possible underlying tension in the Real Madrid dressing room. Arbeloa reiterated that his team selections are strictly performance-based, while Mbappe insisted he remains fully committed to the club. Nonetheless, the boos and recent controversies suggest that the Frenchman’s position and form will continue to be closely observed by both fans and pundits in the coming weeks.