MADRID (AP) 鈥� Kylian Mbapp茅 said after not starting in Real Madrid’s Spanish league match against Oviedo on Thursday that coach 脕lvaro Arbeloa told him that he is the team’s fourth-choice striker.
Arbeloa appeared to be caught by surprise by Mbapp茅’s words and said he never told him that. He said he doesn’t know why Mbapp茅 felt like that.
Mbapp茅, who had been nursing a left hamstring injury, said he was ready to play from the start against Oviedo but Arbeloa decided not to use him.
鈥淚鈥檓 100% fine,鈥� Mbapp茅 said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 play because the coach told me I’m the fourth striker in the squad behind (Franco) Mastantuono, Vini (Vin铆cius J煤nior) and Gonzalo (Garc铆a). I accept it. I was ready to start, it was his decision. You can’t be angry with the coach, you always have to respect the opinion of the coach. I’ll keep working hard and wait to be the starter.鈥�
Arbeloa later said he never told Mbapp茅 he was the fourth striker in the squad.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have four strikers, and I haven鈥檛 told anything like that to Mbapp茅,鈥� Arbeloa said. 鈥淗e probably didn鈥檛 understand me. I don鈥檛 really know what to tell you. I wouldn鈥檛 tell him that he鈥檚 the fourth-choice striker.鈥�
The disagreement between Arbeloa and Mbapp茅 is the latest in a chaotic week for Madrid, which started with an altercation between players in training that led the club to fine Federico Valverde and Aur茅lien Tchouam茅ni ($589,000) each.
Then came the 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the that allowed its rival to clinch the league title. On Tuesday, an edgy Madrid president Florentino P茅rez called for new elections after saying he was the victim of an 鈥渙rganized campaign鈥� to unseat him.
Mbapp茅 was booed by the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium after coming into the match to replace Garc铆a in the 68th minute. He assisted in Jude Bellingham’s 79th-minute goal that sealed Madrid’s 2-0 win.
The France star had been criticized by some fans who claimed he was saving himself for the World Cup. During his time off because of the injury, Mbapp茅 reportedly traveled to Italy with actress Ester Exp贸sito, prompting criticism in Spanish media that he may not be taking his rehabilitation seriously.
The striker downplayed the importance of his trip.
鈥淚 had the club’s permission to be away from Madrid,” Mbapp茅 said. “I wasn鈥檛 the only one, but you have to accept it and move on. I can easily turn this situation around.鈥�
Mbapp茅 has not yet fully met expectations of his high-profile signing with Madrid two seasons ago. The club has not won a major trophy since he arrived.
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