Kylian Mbappe is slowly becoming persona non grata around Real Madrid, and as he does his best to enjoy some time off in Italy as he recuperates from an injury ahead of the World Cup with the French national team, a storm is brewing back home.
Because, once again, Real Madrid looked ten times better and played more joyously without him. Vinicius Junior scored a brace, Jude Bellingham posed a photo of the team sans Mbappe, Gonzalo Garcia made a statement to those who want him sold this summer, and Real Madrid rolled to a 2-0 victory over Espanyol.
And though Mbappe had been protected from the usually squabbling about Real Madrid stars in the media during a difficult season with more attention played on magnets for criticism VInicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, the Frenchman has found himselsf in the crosshairs.
Kylian Mbappe needs to start winning
Even his own home media, who had usually treated him with kid gloves on, is not pulling any punches. L'Equipe, via the Madrid Zone, joined the Spanish media in the turn against Kylian Mbappe. Per Europe's largest sports exclusive newspaper, Real Madrid teammates think Mbappe is too much of an individualist and that he is getting away with too many privileges. The report about him disrespecting a staff member is corroborated by the French paper, and they also relay an incident in which Mbappe was 40 minutes late to a team meal. He is reportedly more isolated from the rest of the team in the dressing room.
Now, when things are going south for a team and for a player, it is not unnatural for a pile on to ensue. And it has happened to even bigger figures at Real Madrid than Mbappe. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and still others, for all of their glory, were not spared. Even VInicius Junior will stand there in meme fashion with a noose around his neck saying, "First time?" as Mbappe falls victim to the parade of reports.
Except in this case, the fire is spreading with gasoline poured all over the campus of the venerable Valdebebas, because, this time, there will both be people happy to believe it and even ready to exact revenge as they watched Mbappe's teammates unfairly endure the burden of the criticism alone.
All will be forgiven with one thing and one thing only. If Mbappe comes back and wins. Not scores. Not accrues trophies. But wins with the team. Because when even L'Equipe is joining in with reports about Mbappe antaognizing the dressing room, Madridistas can only wonder if this is the truth.
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