The roots of this frustration reportedly go back to the arrival of Xabi Alonso, who initially made Mbappe the focal point of the team. During that brief era, the Frenchman flourished while Vinicius Jr. appeared secondary. However, when Arbeloa took over, the tactical pendulum swung back in the Brazilian's direction. Arbeloa made his intentions clear from day one: "I'm going to work to get the best out of Vini. I'm going to demand that his teammates find him and give him the ball."
According toMarca**,**this shift has left Mbappe feeling isolated. Arbeloa's philosophy emphasises grit over glamour, with the coach famously stating, "We didn't create Real Madrid with players who go onto the pitch in tuxedos, but with players who finish with their shirts covered in sweat, mud, and hard work." The report claims that this apparently veiled dig at Mbappe's perceived lack of defensive work has further widened the rift between the star signing and the dugout.