[Rumor Board] TA: Rudiger And Mbappe Clashed With Others During Training, And The Atmosphere In The Real Madrid Team Was Bad

On May 5, Hupu, The Athletic’s Real Madrid reporters Guillermo Rai and Mario Cortegana co-wrote a Real Madrid column.

Tensions are rising behind the scenes at Real Madrid.

Conflicts involving senior players, including Kylian Mbappe, have further damaged the atmosphere since being eliminated by Bayern Munich from the Champions League last month and continue to affect the team's preparations for Sunday's decisive El Clasico.

The first incident, which took place in April, involved a heated argument between Antonio Rudiger and another first-team player in the dressing room at Real Madrid's training ground.

Details of the incident were confirmed to The Athletic by multiple sources, who stated that the conflict was instigated by Rudiger. The 33-year-old Germany international later apologized for his behavior and invited his teammates and their families to lunch last Friday.

After that, there was another dispute, this time between Mbappe and a member of Real Madrid's coaching staff, on April 24, before an away game against Real Betis.

During training, Mbappe had a conflict with a certain coach. According to sources, the member of the coaching staff who was serving as an assistant referee determined that Mbappe was offside, and the Frenchman angrily scolded him with insulting words.

Such incidents are not uncommon in elite football, and there is currently no indication that Rudiger or Mbappe have suffered any internal punishment. However, these incidents have caused the mood within the Real Madrid team to become even worse, so they should be regarded as signs worth paying attention to.

This article is based on conversations with a number of sources at the club. All those interviewed asked to remain anonymous to protect their relationships. The Athletic contacted Real Madrid for comment for this article, and also contacted Rudiger and Mbappe's representatives.

Why is Mbappe so controversial now?

Mbappe's actions have caused dissatisfaction among many people around Real Madrid. In the exchange with The Athletic, many people inside and outside the club (including staff and other player representatives) criticized the player and also accused Real Madrid of not adopting a tougher attitude.

As well as clashing with his coach at the training ground last month, the 27-year-old Frenchman also faced internal criticism for holidaying in Italy with his partner.

Mbappe, who was recovering from a hamstring injury suffered against Betis on April 24, got a few days off last week. He returned to the Spanish capital on Sunday evening, shortly before the kick-off of Real Madrid's away game against Espanyol. In that game, Vinicius Junior's two goals helped the team win 2-0.

Many supporters feel that Mbappe should not take a vacation when the team is going through a difficult period. This has become a hot topic. At the post-match press conference, coach Alvaro Arbeloa was asked three times about his condition.

"When they have free time, every player can do what they think is appropriate and right, and I will not interfere." It was the 43-year-old head coach who said this.

Real Madrid's medical team is responsible for supervising and managing every plan for injured players. When injured players need to go to the club's training center called Valdebebas, and when they do not need to go, it is decided by Real Madrid's medical team.

Arriola's initial idea was to clearly separate himself from the responsibility for the incident. However, a person familiar with the situation later told Sports Weekly that the coach was not satisfied with the way the club handled the matter.

On Tuesday morning, Mbappe's delegation responded to a request for comment from The Athletic regarding disputes at the training ground and a series of issues with the atmosphere within the Real Madrid team. The statement said: "Some of the criticism stems from an over-interpretation of a long recovery period under the strict supervision of the club. However, this interpretation cannot truly reflect Kylian's commitment to the team and his actual investment in daily training."

The current focus is on whether Mbappe, Real Madrid's top scorer, who has played 41 times in all competitions this season and scored 41 goals, can make a comeback in the national derby against Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Arbeloa added at the post-match press conference on Sunday night that we will see how Mbappe is doing this week. After last week's examination, it seems that he needs more time to recover.

Asked on Monday whether the striker would be available, one training ground source said: "Only he knows." Another club source claimed he would be assessed again on Wednesday.

How bad is the atmosphere within the Real Madrid team?

Pretty bad. Things like Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe were the beginning of the problems, but conversations with sources revealed a worrying atmosphere surrounding the first team. In the build-up to Sunday's game against Barcelona, ​​the team's unity was hard to detect, and Hansi Flick's side only needed a draw to win the title.

Instead, there are internal disputes, uncertainty surrounding Alvaro Arbeloa's position and the uncertain futures of several players, all of which combine to create a picture of discord and frustration.

The overall impression shows that there are many players in the first-line team who feel unhappy internally, and this situation has been brewing for a long time.

Real Madrid locker room management has always been a huge challenge. Nowadays, it is generally believed that Arbeloa will not coach again next season, but he has to deal with this situation with difficulty under such expectations.

What did we learn from Sunday's win over Espanyol?

Real Madrid's performance in the first half was really hard to be excited about. The team seemed to lack that kind of energy for most of the game. However, thanks to Vinicius Junior's two wonderful goals in the second half, they finally got three points with a score of 2-0.

In 2026, Vinicius Junior has scored 16 goals. Among the five major European leagues, he is second only to Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, who has scored 24 goals. The Brazilian had previously scored just six goals in 27 appearances under Xavi Alonso, a contrast highlighted by those closest to him.

In addition, there was a controversial scene on the Real Madrid bench.

In the 11th minute, Ferran Mendy was substituted due to injury, and Fran Garcia came on as a substitute. Spanish television cameras captured Alvaro Carreras reacting with a smile. Carreras has once again been overlooked, having been an unused substitute in three of Real Madrid's last four games, sparking heated debate among fans.

The summer signing from Benfica, who signed him for €50m (£43.2m; $58.5m), and was brought in by Real Madrid in 2020 when he joined Manchester United on a free transfer, has seen his playing time drop dramatically since Arbeloa replaced Xavi Alonso in January, and tensions have grown between Carreras and Arbeloa in recent weeks.

Sources within Real Madrid's coaching staff complained about the 23-year-old's attitude and professionalism. However, those close to the player dismissed these criticisms.

What else should we focus on this week?

Everyone will be keeping a close eye on any developments regarding Real Madrid's next manager.

A few days ago, an organization called The Athletic released information that Florentino Perez, as the club president, has identified Jose Mourinho, who currently works for Benfica, as the first choice to succeed Arbeloa. This person served as coach at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. But then again, it is clear that until now there is no way of knowing exactly what decision the club will ultimately make.

In another sign that Real Madrid are laying the groundwork for a new blueprint, Atletico Madrid are in talks with Toni Kroos to return to the Santiago Bernabeu, although his new role has not yet been fully determined.

At the same time, Thibaut Courtois is another player whose physical condition has attracted great attention. The 33-year-old Belgian goalkeeper has been sidelined since suffering a thigh injury in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals victory over Manchester City on March 16. Real Madrid hope he will be available in time for Sunday's La Liga match away to Barcelona.

As for Mendy, a source at Real Madrid said that he suffered a muscle strain on Sunday, and the injury may require surgery. The 30-year-old full-back, who has been plagued by serious injuries many times in recent years, will have to undergo further physical examination before he can be evaluated.