Mbappé – Arbeloa clash: José Mourinho weighs in

José Mourinho responded to the controversy pitting Álvaro Arbeloa and Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid CF, an episode that has unsettled the Madrid locker room for several days. It all started with the French striker’s statements, in which he questioned some selection choices and claimed to have been demoted in the club’s attacking hierarchy, missing a decisive match against FC Barcelona. The remarks were quickly contested by Arbeloa, who asserted that his player had misinterpreted his intentions and that the accusations were unfounded.

Questioned about this tension, Mourinho gave a measured response, tinged with emotion and respect for his former player who has become a coach. “ It hurts, because he was one of the players who affected me most on a human level“, he explained. The Benfica coach recalled the strong relationship that ties him to Arbeloa, whom he coached in the past at Real Madrid. He stressed the continuity of this bond despite the years and the changes in his career. “ To see a former player succeed on the bench is always special. But it’s also the reality of this profession“, he added.