The atmosphere at Real Madrid is under intense pressure.
After their Champions League elimination by Bayern Munich, a series of internal conflicts came to light, affecting the stability of the squad managed by Álvaro Arbeloa on the eve of the decisive clash against Barcelona.
The information was published by The Athletic on Tuesday (5), in a report by Guilhermo Rai and Mario Cortegana.
According to the sports arm of the New York Times, the Merengue dressing room has recently gone through critical episodes.
Defender Antonio Rüdiger was involved in a heated argument with a teammate in April.
Although he apologized and organized a team lunch to make peace, the atmosphere remains tense.
On top of that, Kylian Mbappé had a serious falling-out with a member of the coaching staff during training.
The reason was reportedly an offside call during a practice match, which led the Frenchman to hurl insults at the assistant, according to The Athletic.
Mbappé’s controversial time off
Mbappé’s conduct off the pitch is also being questioned.
The forward, who is recovering from a thigh injury, traveled to Italy during his days off and returned to Madrid shortly before the match against Espanyol.
Club staff and representatives of other players criticized the lack of a firmer stance from the board.
In response, the player’s representatives say the criticism is exaggerated and that his recovery is being supervised by the medical department.
Injuries and uncertainty over the coach
Álvaro Arbeloa’s position as coach is considered fragile, as the expectation is that he will not remain for next season.
This “end of a cycle” scenario has made it harder to keep the group under control.
Meanwhile, rumors point to José Mourinho as Florentino Pérez’s favorite to take over, possibly with Toni Kroos in a new administrative role.
For the Clásico against Barcelona, Real Madrid are still dealing with fitness issues.
In addition to the doubt surrounding Mbappé, goalkeeper Courtois is trying to speed up his return, while full-back Ferland Mendy suffered a recent muscle injury and may need surgery.
The situation is one of disunity and discouragement ahead of facing their biggest rival, who need only a draw to secure the title.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
