Alvaro Arbeloa reveals if he demoted Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid’s fourth striker

Arbeloa’s response framed it as a communication issue rather than a formal demotion.

The situation still matters because Mbappe was booed by sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd after coming on in the 69th minute, adding more pressure to an already sensitive moment.

Alvaro Arbeloa says Real Madrid decision was about timing

Arbeloa then explained that the choice was based on Mbappe’s recent availability, not a permanent change in status.

“It’s clear that if I don’t play him, he can’t play. I’m the coach, and I’m the one who decides who plays and who doesn’t. I had a conversation with him before the match,” he continued.

I don’t know how he might have interpreted it. A player who wasn’t on the bench four days ago shouldn’t have started today. It’s not a final, it’s not a do-or-die situation,” Arbeloa concluded.

That was Arbeloa’s clearest justification. Mbappe had recently dealt with injury concerns, and the coach did not think it made sense to rush him straight into the starting lineup.

The explanation also reinforced Arbeloa’s authority. He made it clear that selection decisions belong to the coach, even when the player involved is one of Madrid’s biggest stars.

For Mbappe, the message is simple. He has not been publicly demoted, but he still has to earn his way back into Arbeloa’s starting plans.

Read more:

• What Kylian Mbappe thinks of becoming Real Madrid’s ‘fourth striker’ under Alvaro Arbeloa
• Alvaro Arbeloa refuses to take five Real Madrid players off the pitch even after Benfica embarrassment
• Xabi Alonso replaced by former Liverpool teammate as Real Madrid manager