Just when you thought we might have a few days off from all the recent drama concerning Real Madrid, they manage to somehow outdo themselves
On Thursday evening, Real Madrid beat rock bottom, already relegated Real Oviedo 2-0 at the Bernabeu on match day 36 of the La Liga season.
Despite this game being a dead rubber, you'd have thought winning the game may bring some tranquillity to the current, chaotic situation. But no.
Indeed not, as it appears that head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and Kylian Mbappe are having what can only be at the least described as a public disagreement.
The Frenchman was left on the bench for this game, having missed Sunday's El Clasico with discomfort after pulling out early from Saturday's training session.
Having played the final 21 minutes of the game, Mbappe made a very interesting comment: "Arbeloa told me I'm the fourth choice attacker in the squad. I have to accept the manager's choice."
As you can imagine, this quote is doing the rounds everywhere. He did not finish there, making further comment: "It (the current situation) hurts, because this year we really had the opportunity to do great things, and we showed that at the start of the season.
I will not mention any names, I'm only here to defend the club." He continued: "I have a great relationship with Xabi Alonso, everyone knows what I think of him, but he's in the past. We have to look ahead, at what we can improve and do better."
Oh, but there's more, with the Frenchman saying: "I have no problem with Arbeloa. We have to respect the manager's decision. Everyone has their own ideas and philosophy. I have to work to be better than Gonzalo (Garcia), (Franco) Mastantuono, and Vini to get playing time."
Well, very interesting. Now for Arbeloa's side: "I did not tell Mbappe that he is my fourth attacker. He probably didn't understand (what I said). How could I say that? I don't know what to say."
Then, the 42-year old was asked about starting Mbappe on the bench: "It's obvious for me that a player who couldn't travel the other day couldn't start today. It wasn't a final, we play again in three days. This was a normal thing."
Afterwards, Arbeloa was asked about Mbappe saying he could have started the game tonight, to which he responded: "The best thing was to come off the bench. He couldn't even be on the bench four days ago. Gonzalo deserved to play today. I'm the coach and I decide who plays and who doesn't, no matter what their name is.
I don't care if players disagree with my decisions, I will do what's right for the team, always."
Well, well, well. Incredible. Real Madrid are the biggest soap opera in the world, it really has to be said. You can't imagine this changing with the pending appointment of Jose Mourinho either.
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