Kylian Mbappé has been left out of Real Madrid’s matchday squad for their crucial Clásico game at Barcelona on Sunday.
Madrid go into the match knowing that a failure to win at Camp Nou would confirm opponents Barça as LaLiga champions.
Mbappé suffered a hamstring injury against Real Betis on April 24 and hasn’t featured for Madrid since.
Ahead of Sunday’s Clásico, second-placed Madrid trail Barcelona by 11 points, with four games left to play.
Mbappé drew controversy by going away on holiday during his recovery — being pictured on a yacht in Italy with his partner — before returning to training this week.
The star forward’s camp described the criticism he faced as an “overinterpretation of elements related to a recovery period strictly supervised by the club,” adding that it “does not reflect the reality of Kylian’s commitment and daily work for the team.”
Mbappé is LaLiga’s top scorer this season with 24 goals, but is set to record a second season at the Bernabéu without winning a major trophy.
Madrid have had a difficult week going into the Clásico. Midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde were each fined €500,000 ($589,000) by the club after a training ground confrontation left Valverde requiring hospital treatment for a head injury.
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Speaking on Saturday, coach Álvaro Arbeloa rejected claims that the situation in Madrid’s dressing room is out of control and hit out at what he described as “lies” and “leaks” regarding training ground dissent.
“A lot of lies are being said,” Arbeloa said. “It’s a lie that my players aren’t professional. It’s a complete lie that my players have shown me a lack of respect, not once… If things that happen in the dressing room are leaked, I think it’s a betrayal of Real Madrid and what this badge represents.”
