Kylian Mbappe drops Alvaro Arbeloa bombshell after angry Real Madrid fans turn on him

Kylian Mbappe sensationally claimed that Alvaro Arbeloa has told him he is now FOURTH-choice after the striker was jeered by Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu on Thursday night. The France star was benched for the game against Real Oviedo, which Los Blancos won 2-0. Mbappe was introduced in the 69th minute in place of Gonzalo Garcia, who was on the scoresheet in Real's first home game since their bitter rivals, Barcelona , clinched the La Liga title with victory in the El Clasico. Mbappe, who missed Sunday's loss against Barca, was subjected to loud whistles from the home fans when he did take to the pitch. And after insisting he was fully fit after missing out last weekend, the 27-year-old then dropped the bombshell that Real Madrid's interim head coach feels he is well down the pecking order. "I'm well, I'm 100 per cent," Mbappe told stunned reporters. "I didn't play because the coach [Arbeloa] told me I'm the fourth-choice forward in the squad behind [Franco] Mastantuono, Vinicius [Junior] and Gonzalo. I accept it and play the time I'm given. I think I played well. "I was ready to start. 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." Mbappe's bombshell is the latest headache for Arbeloa, who took charge following the departure of Xabi Alonso back in January. Real Madrid have endured a chastening season with Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni recently making headlines after becoming embroiled in a physical confrontation. But Arbeloa shot down Mbappe's claim, insisting that "at no point" had he told the Frenchman he was fourth-choice. "I wish I had four forwards," Arbeloa said in response to Mbappe's comments. "I don't have four forwards, and I certainly didn't say anything like that to Mbappe. 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. "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. I don't know how he might have interpreted it. A player who wasn't on the bench four days ago shouldn't start today. It's not a final, it's not a do-or-die situation. That's all. I don't have any problem with anyone." Mbappe was jeered by unhappy fans after he was pictured on holiday while recovering from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the El Clasico. The striker has insisted that his break was "authorised by the club" and that he simply "had to accept" the fans' reaction. "It's life," Mbappe said of the whistles. "You can't change people's minds when they're angry. I shouldn't take it personally. It's the life of a Real Madrid player, and a famous player like me. They're not happy. That's the only way to understand the whistles." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.