Real Madrid will face rivals Barcelona in Sunday’s Clasico while dealing with growing unrest, knowing anything less than a win would hand the Catalan club the La Liga title.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s team are currently 11 points behind the defending champions with only four matches left, leaving them on course for a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
At a club where winning is considered essential, the pressure has pushed Madrid into a period of instability and frustration.
The atmosphere around the club has reportedly become tense, with supporters protesting against star forward Kylian Mbappe over what they view as a lack of commitment. Reports have also emerged of two separate clashes between players during training sessions.
Adding to the uncertainty, club president Florentino Perez is reportedly considering a major managerial change, with former coach Jose Mourinho being linked with a possible return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Current manager Arbeloa, who took charge after replacing Xabi Alonso in January, is also said to be experiencing strained relationships with several members of the squad.
Defender Ferland Mendy has added to Madrid’s problems after being ruled out for around five months with a thigh injury.
Preparations for the Clasico have been far from smooth, with Spanish newspaper Marca reporting that midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde nearly got into a physical altercation during training on Wednesday following a foul.
The publication also reported clear divisions within the squad, claiming some players barely communicate with each other. It further stated that tensions with Arbeloa have grown, with as many as six players allegedly refusing to speak to the coach.
This incident follows another reported disagreement between defenders Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras two weeks ago, although Carreras later dismissed the issue as minor and resolved.
Posting on Instagram this week, Carreras described the matter as an isolated and unimportant incident, adding that his relationship with the rest of the team remains positive.
Carreras, usually Madrid’s preferred option at left-back, was also seen smiling after Fran Garcia was chosen to replace the injured Mendy in Sunday’s win over Espanyol instead of him.
Mbappe remains doubtful for the Clasico due to a hamstring injury. The French forward has come under criticism after travelling to Sardinia for a holiday while recovering.
An online “Mbappe Out” petition calling for changes for the future of the club has reportedly gathered close to 30 million signatures.
A source close to Mbappe told AFP that criticism aimed at the forward, who is Madrid’s top scorer this season, has been exaggerated. However, Arbeloa appeared to indirectly call for greater commitment from his players.
After Madrid’s victory over Espanyol, which delayed Barcelona’s title celebrations, Arbeloa said Real Madrid was not built on players who perform in comfort, but on those who leave the pitch with shirts covered in sweat and mud through hard work and sacrifice.
Despite the club’s unstable situation, Mourinho has reportedly emerged as Perez’s preferred option if Madrid move forward with a coaching change.