Real Madrid Grapples with Dressing Room Discord Amidst Mbappe's Controversial Recovery

Jose Mourinho has struggled to quell persistent tensions within the Real Madrid dressing room since his return as manager, according to recent reports. The club's 2025-26 season was reportedly marked by off-field issues, including player altercations, a situation that has not improved under Mourinho's tenure.

In May, midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni were involved in a physical dispute. Despite Mourinho's reputation for strict discipline, Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claims the locker room atmosphere remains "icy," a sentiment that has not dissipated.

According to the outlet, the squad had issues with previous managers Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa. Most recently, two unnamed players reportedly engaged in a physical altercation. Cadena Ser journalist Anton Meana highlighted the ongoing issues, stating, "The only problem is that the atmosphere in the dressing room is still as icy as it was five months ago. This coldness in the dressing room, which even Mourinho's intensity hasn't managed to dispel, combined with the turmoil surrounding the Mbappe affair, has created a tense climate, far from ideal for approaching this crucial month of October."

The "Mbappe affair" refers to forward Kylian Mbappe's recent recovery from a knee tendon injury. Mbappe withdrew from the French national squad after scoring the winning goal in their match against Turkey. The French Football Federation cited a tendon injury in his left knee, though he has since returned to training and is expected to be fit for Real Madrid's upcoming fixtures.

However, prior to his return to Spain, Mbappe was reportedly seen at a nightclub in Paris and later shared a video of himself cycling in the Swiss Alps. This activity reportedly irked Mourinho, who has previously expressed strong views on player conduct outside of matches. "You are a football player 24 hours a day," Mourinho stated last month. "Everything reflects the job. What you eat, what you drink, how you sleep, even things in your private life. You cannot ski. You cannot ride a bike. You fall off your bike, and you don't play three matches maybe, or maybe worse, maybe you break a leg... there are a lot of things you have to give up to be a football player."

Mourinho is said to have reprimanded Mbappe upon his return to the club, urging him to be more discreet with his off-pitch activities. Marca journalist Pablo Polo noted, "Mourinho did not appreciate how Mbappe managed his recovery. His movements and also the fact that he arrived on Monday after training."

Real Madrid has experienced a mixed start to the current campaign under Mourinho, securing five wins in their first seven LaLiga matches, placing them six points behind league leaders Barcelona. The team is scheduled to play Villarreal at home on Saturday before traveling to face Roma in the Champions League next Wednesday.