Kylian Mbappé has been forced to issue a public defence of his rehabilitation regime after a weekend trip to Sardinia with the Spanish actress Ester Expósito ignited a storm of criticism inside the Real Madrid dressing room and among the club’s supporters. Through his representatives, the French forward told the AFP news agency that the backlash amounted to a “campaign” based on an “exaggerated interpretation” of a recovery period he insists is being “strictly supervised” by the club’s medical staff. The statement, released on Tuesday, came as Madrid prepared for Sunday’s potentially decisive El Clásico in Barcelona, where defeat or even a draw would hand the La Liga title to their fiercest rivals.

Viewed from Madrid, the episode is the latest symptom of a season unravelling for both club and player. Mbappé has struggled to replicate his Paris Saint-Germain form since his long-awaited move to the Bernabéu last year, and the early elimination from the Champions League only sharpened the scrutiny. The muscular injury that kept him out of the 24 April fixture against Real Betis has now raised doubts about his availability for the trip to Camp Nou, a match in which Barcelona could seal the league championship. That the forward chose to fly to the Italian island during a weekend off given by the coaching staff has been seen in many quarters as a lapse in judgment, particularly given the stakes.

Inside the club, the discontent is not confined to the stands. Spanish media report growing friction in the dressing room, with several senior players — particularly the Spanish core — expressing irritation at what they perceive as a lack of focus. The timing could hardly be worse: Madrid are now trailing Barcelona in the league and face an off-season of restructuring. For a player who arrived as the finishing piece of the club’s galactic project, the optics of a beach holiday while teammates prepare for a title decider have proved toxic.

Meanwhile, analysts in France note that Mbappé’s rehabilitation schedule is also being calibrated around the upcoming World Cup, where he will be expected to lead Les Bleus. This dual allegiance — to club and country — has long complicated his relationship with Madrid fans, who demand total commitment. The forward’s camp insists his recovery remains on track and that he is working individually at Valdebebas even on rest days, but the narrative has already shifted. What began as a routine trip has become a symbol of a wider disconnect between Mbappé and the institution that invested so heavily in him.

Looking ahead, Sunday’s Clásico will test more than just his fitness. Whatever the medical verdict, his absence would fuel further accusations of detachment, while a cameo appearance would risk being seen as an attempt to repair reputation over readiness. The episode underscores a broader challenge for Carlo Ancelotti: managing a superstar whose off-field choices now carry as much weight as his performances on the pitch. For Mbappé, the silence has been broken, but the questions about his place in Madrid’s long-term project have only grown louder.