The heat on Kylian Mbappé has been relentless, yet Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has stepped into the fray, delivering a staunch, almost defiant defense of his star forward amidst a tumultuous campaign at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Key Takeaways from Perez's Address
- Florentino Perez firmly backs Kylian Mbappé, labeling him Real Madrid's "best player" despite recent criticism.
- The club's disappointing season is attributed by Perez to physical exhaustion from a packed fixture schedule, particularly the Club World Cup.
- Concerns over internal dressing room disputes leaking to media are a significant worry for the Real Madrid hierarchy.
- Mbappé's potential return from injury for the season's final La Liga fixtures remains uncertain.
Madrid's Season Under Scrutiny: Perez Deflects Blame
Despite Real Madrid's failure to clinch major silverware this season – finishing second in La Liga to Barcelona and a quarter-final exit in the Champions League – Florentino Perez has categorically refused to lay the blame at Mbappé's feet. The French phenom, still in contention for the Liga Golden Boot and a likely Champions League top scorer, has faced intense scrutiny.
Privately, Perez is reportedly frustrated with Mbappé's conduct during his recent injury layoff. However, in an extensive interview with La Sexta, the president maintained a public distance regarding player-coach interactions, stating, "I don't talk to the players about the coach. I only talk about them with their families. I don't speak to Mbappé. I greet them at training."
Presidential Shield: Florentino's Unwavering Faith in Mbappé
Perez's stance is clear: he views Mbappé as the undisputed centerpiece of the current Real Madrid squad. His words serve as a powerful vote of confidence in a player under immense pressure, especially given the team's recent struggles.
"Mbappe is the best player of Madrid at this moment," Perez declared, highlighting his belief that the forward has grasped the essence of playing for Los Blancos. "There is something that we must improve, but I am not going to get involved in that. I think he has understood what Madrid is. He has scored many goals."
The Physical Toll: Tracing Madrid's Season Slump
Beyond individual player performance, Perez identified a broader systemic issue for the team's disappointing 2025-26 campaign, which included a Copa del Rey elimination by Albacete and a Champions League exit against Bayern Munich.
The root cause, according to the president, lies in the Club World Cup. "The origin of this is in the Club World Cup. We have not been able to recover the physical aspect, we played every three days and we have not taken care of the physical side," Perez explained. This relentless schedule left the squad physically depleted, impacting their ability to perform consistently at an elite level.
Cracks in the Bernabéu: Leaks, Injuries, and the Road Ahead
The Real Madrid president also touched upon unsettling reports of an "irreparable rift" within the squad, following alleged altercations involving Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni that subsequently leaked to the press.
Perez expressed strong disapproval of such internal matters becoming public, emphasizing the need for locker room confidentiality. "We know about it, or we suspect it. To bring that up to tear Real Madrid apart... It should stay in the locker room."
With manager Alvaro Arbeloa at the helm, Real Madrid prepares for its final La Liga fixtures against Real Oviedo, Sevilla, and Athletic Club. Whether Kylian Mbappé will recover in time to contribute to these closing games remains a key question for the club and its fans.
