Kylian Mbappe booed by Real Madrid fans on return from injury

Kylian Mbappe was greeted with a chorus of boos and whistles from Real Madrid‘s own fans as he returned from a hamstring injury during his side’s 2-0 La Liga win over Real Oviedo.

The French forward missed Sunday’s 2-0 El Clasico defeat by Barcelona ⁠that saw their bitter ​rivals ⁠wrap up the league title with three games to spare, and his ⁠introduction in the 69th minute as a ​substitute ⁠for goal-scorer Gonzalo Garcia ‌prompted widespread jeers from the Madrid fans.

Gonzalo had given the home side the lead in the 44th minute with a well-taken goal after bottom side Oviedo, whose are already relegated to the second tier, coughed the ball up cheaply on their right flank.

Mbappe, who earlier on Thursday was named in the France squad for next month’s World Cup, seemed undeterred by the boos, firing off a number of shots towards ‌goal during his cameo appearance.

However, it ​was fellow substitute Jude Bellingham who ‌netted Madrid’s second in ⁠the 80th minute to leave Madrid ⁠second in the table on 80 points, 11 behind ‌Barcelona and ​11 ahead of ‌third-placed Villarreal with two ​games left to play.

After the game, Mbappe suggested that his injury had not been the whole reason for his absence from the side, with Alvaro Arbeloa instead preferring other options up front.

“I’m 100% fine,” he said. “I haven’t played because for the ⁠coach I’ve been the fourth striker in the squad behind (Franco) ​Mastantuono, ⁠Vini[cius Jr] and Gonzalo.

“I was ready to start, it’s his decision and it always has to be respected. I have no problem at all ‌with Arbeloa. You have to accept the ‌coach’s philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono.”

Reuters