Kylian Mbappé benched, booed: Madrid coach said I was 4th-choice - ESPN

MADRID — Kylian Mbappé said on Thursday that Álvaro Arbeloa had told him he was Real Madrid's «fourth-choice forward» — a claim later denied by the coach — after being benched, and then whistled by fans, in the team's 2-0 win over Real Oviedo.

Mbappé was introduced as a 69th-minute substitute in the LaLiga game, replacing Gonzalo García who had earlier put Madrid ahead, and was loudly whistled by the Bernabéu crowd.

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The match was Madrid's first home game since rivals Barcelona were confirmed as champions, and followed a dramatic week which saw president Florentino Pérez announce that he would seek the backing of club members in fresh presidential elections.

«I'm well, I'm 100 percent,» Mbappé told reporters after the game, after missing Sunday's Clásico with Barça through injury, and then starting on the bench against Oviedo.

«I didn't play because the coach [Arbeloa] told me I'm the fourth-choice forward in the squad behind [Franco] Mastantuono, Vinícius[Júnior] and Gonzalo. I accept it and play the time I'm given. I think I played well.»

«I was ready to start,» Mbappé added. «I'm not angry with the manager. You always have to respect a coach's decision. I'll work hard to get back into the starting lineup.»

Speaking shortly afterward in his post-match news conference, Arbeloa was asked about Mbappé's comments.

«I wish I had four forwards,» Arbeloa said. «I don't have four forwards, and I certainly didn't say anything like that to Mbappé. Perhaps he didn't understand me. I don't know what else to tell you. At no point could I tell him that he's the fourth-choice forward.»