Kylian Mbappe spent seven days away from Real Madrid’s training ground during the international break, posted a bike ride on social media and travelled abroad while the rest of the squad was on international duty. His time off became a story on Spanish television before it was one inside the Real Madrid dressing room.

Josep Pedrerol delivered the loudest verdict on Monday night’s El Chiringuito, telling viewers that Mbappe, top scorer in La Liga this season with eight goals, is “losing the affection” of Madridismo, the term Spanish football uses for the Real Madrid fanbase.

“The Mbappe matter is bothering Madridismo. Either he explains it badly or he does not explain it at all,” Pedrerol said, per El Desmarque.

The presenter tied the complaint to head coach José Mourinho’s dressing-room rules, pointing out that Mourinho tells players not to ride bicycles while recovering, yet Mbappe had been doing exactly that on his social media feed.

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“There has been no sign of him at the training facility for seven days, and he is recovering from an injury,” Pedrerol said.

He also pointed to Real Madrid’s trophy drought, noting that the club have not won a trophy since Mbappe’s arrival in Spain, while Paris Saint-Germain, the forward’s previous club, have won everything in the same stretch.

“Mbappe is losing the affection of Madridismo, and that is the worst thing that can happen to a footballer,” Pedrerol said.

Real Madrid push back

The club does not share the alarm. Journalist Anton Meana reported for Cadena SER that there is no unhappiness inside the Bernabeu or the dressing room with Mbappe, that the forward had explicit permission to spend his recovery days outside Spain, and that the club does not understand the controversy that has grown around his movements.

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Mbappe hyperextended the posterior capsule of his left knee during France’s 1-0 Nations League win in Turkey, picking up the problem after scoring the winner in the 54th minute. Real Madrid’s initial estimate put him out for 10 to 12 days.

He flew back into Madrid on Monday morning and trained alone at Valdebebas in the afternoon, combining gym work, physiotherapy and light ball work on the pitch, reports beIN Sports.

A noisy build-up to the Clasico

The timing explains why the volume is this high. Real Madrid host Villarreal on Saturday 10 October before the Champions League trip to Roma, and the fixture that frames the month is the Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday 25 October, kick-off at 9pm local time, as confirmed by Real Madrid.

Mourinho, back in the Bernabeu dugout on a three-year deal announced on 11 June 2026, inherits a side sitting fourth in La Liga, chasing a Barcelona team that has opened the season with seven wins from seven.

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Pedrerol closed his monologue by calling on Mourinho to assert his authority over the dressing room, above any individual player.

Mbappe is expected to rejoin collective training this week, with his availability for the Villarreal fixture to be decided late in the week.

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