Real Madrid are dealing with growing internal tensions following a series of training-ground incidents involving senior players, including Kylian Mbappe, ahead of a crucial period in their season.
The atmosphere at the club has reportedly deteriorated in the weeks since their Champions League elimination to Bayern Munich, with multiple flashpoints contributing to unrest within the squad.
One of the key incidents involved Mbappe during a training session prior to the team’s recent trip to face Real Betis.
Sources indicate that the forward reacted angrily during a drill after being flagged offside by a member of the coaching staff, who was acting as an assistant referee.
The exchange is understood to have escalated, with Mbappe directing strong words towards the staff member, an episode that did not go down well internally.
While such disputes are not uncommon at elite clubs, the incident has added to concerns about discipline and unity within the dressing room.
Mbappe has also faced criticism from figures around the club over his decision to travel to Italy during a recovery period from a hamstring injury.
Although the trip was approved within the framework of his rehabilitation programme, some within the club questioned the timing given the team’s struggles on the pitch.
The player’s representatives have pushed back against that narrative, insisting that his recovery has been managed in full coordination with the club’s medical staff.
Tensions have not been limited to Mbappe, with Antonio Rudiger also involved in a separate dressing-room confrontation with a team-mate earlier in April.
Rudiger later apologised for his role in that incident and has since attempted to repair relationships within the squad.
Despite those efforts, sources describe a wider sense of unease around the first team, with several players reportedly unhappy and uncertainty surrounding the club’s direction.
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has sought to distance himself from individual player matters, stressing that decisions regarding injured players are handled by the medical department.
However, it is understood that the situation has not gone unnoticed within the coaching staff, with concerns lingering about how certain issues have been managed.
The timing of these tensions is particularly significant, with Madrid preparing for a decisive El Clasico clash against Barcelona.
On the pitch, results have been mixed, with a recent win over Espanyol offering some relief but doing little to mask underlying issues.
Mbappe’s fitness remains a key concern ahead of the fixture, with the forward still being assessed following his injury setback.
As the season approaches its climax, Madrid must now balance their on-field ambitions with the need to restore stability behind the scenes.
