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Real Madrid fans showed their displeasure on Thursday by booing Kylian Mbappe at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium before a 2-0 win over already-relegated Oviedo.
Kylian Mbappe spoke to the media after coming on as a substitute following an injury lay-off and was booed by many in the crowd.
“I think that’s life, we can’t change people’s minds when they’re angry. It’s a way for them to talk, to express themselves, and I think you shouldn’t take it personally,” Mbappe said. That’s the life of a Real Madrid player and the life of a famous player like me.”
New spot on the depth chart
Perhaps the most jarring revelation of the evening was not the boos, but Mbappé’s current position in the dressing room.
Despite providing the assist on Jude Bellingham’s 79th-minute goal to seal the win, the superstar finds himself in an unfamiliar position on the depth chart.
“Today I didn’t play because the coach told me that for him I’m the fourth striker in the squad behind Mastantuono, Vini (Vinícius Júnior) and Gonzalo (Garcia). In the end I accept it and I play the time I get. We played well, I gave Jude an assist and I’m positive.”
Talking about “Holiday” and the Damage
The frustration from the stands seemed to stem from Mbappé’s absence during the match Classicala game Madrid desperately needed. Addressing the audience’s reaction to his time away, Mbappé was blunt about the medical reality and public perception.
“It was a damn bad injury in my leg. It was a shame for me not to be able to play in the Clásico. It’s a game I love to play in, I always score against Barcelona, so it was a shame not to help the team.
When pressed on why fans remained furious about his recent time off, he remained firm:
“I had the club’s permission. I didn’t understand what people were saying. But you have to accept it, a footballer can’t always try to understand. I have to look forward, move on and change the situation. I think I can change the situation.”
Back to a hostile home
A few banners against President Florentino Pérez were held up briefly before being removed by security officials. Pérez greeted some of the fans, but at one point he appeared to get into a verbal altercation with some of the team’s supporters near the VIP stands, according to Spanish media.
The game capped a chaotic week for Madrid, which started with an altercation between players during training that led to the club fining Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni 500,000 euros ($589,000) each.
Then came the loss to Barcelona in Sunday’s clásico that allowed his rivals to win the league title, and on Tuesday Pérez called for new elections after saying he was the victim of an “organized campaign” to oust him.
Speaking out
As Madrid face a second successive season without a major trophy – having been kicked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich and the Copa del Rey by second division club Albacete – the club’s internal politics have become public theatre.
While Florentino Pérez spent his week accusing the media of an “organized campaign” against him, Mbappé chose to address his critics directly.
“There are people who do not speak, who only speak in the press, and I prefer to speak here, from my own mouth.”
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s June 12 opener against Paraguay (9 p.m. ET).
