Multiple outlets reported on the 18th that Real Madrid's stance on selling Kylian Mbappé has noticeably softened, and the likelihood of the France captain leaving is rising. AS reported that the club has torn up his "untouchable" label, while French outlet L'Équipe noted that Bernabéu executives have begun seriously assessing his long-term coexistence with Vinícius Júnior.
From "Not for Sale" to Tradeable: An Operational Shift
For a club accustomed to treating superstars as brand assets, the Mbappé issue is no longer just transfer speculation but a ledger spanning dressing-room governance, on-pitch structure and commercial risk. AS reported on Friday that Real Madrid had warned the player: if he continues to create disruptive situations, he could be put on the market like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos—a stark contrast to the past "untouchable pillar of the squad" narrative.
Earlier triggers piled up layer by layer: in early May he had a heated clash with staff from Álvaro Arbeloa's coaching team; while recovering from injury he went on holiday to Sardinia, sparking criticism that he should have stayed to motivate teammates for the match against Espanyol. After more than 70 million people signed a "Mbappe Out" petition, fan sentiment had shifted from questioning his performances to demanding he be sold.
Action and Selection: The Battle for a Fourth Striker
On the pitch, the tension centers on movement and role allocation. Mbappé believes he is “100 percent” ready to start, yet complains of being reduced to a “fourth-choice striker” under Arbeloa, and has publicly criticized the team’s “structure and playing style,” while calling former head coach Xabi Alonso a “great coach”—remarks that are easily read at the Bernabéu as a rejection of the current system.
He missed El Clásico, came on as a substitute in his return against Real Oviedo to boos at the Santiago Bernabéu (capacity 85,454); his absence against Espanyol further fueled the narrative of being “fit but not in the squad.” He returned to the starting lineup against Sevilla on Sunday, but Vinícius scored the winner and stole the spotlight from the French captain—both prefer cutting in from the left, with their operating areas heavily overlapping, precisely the long-standing tactical clash L’Équipe has highlighted.
Data and the End-of-Season Run-In
Based on end-of-season data on site, Real Madrid won 4-2 at home in Matchday 38 of the 2025 season, with 71% possession, 18 shots, 5 on target, and 91% pass completion in that game, reflecting that Arbeloa’s side still possesses high-pressing ball-control ability; Espanyol drew 1-1 in the same round, with 40% possession away, 9 shots, and 5 on target. Sevilla lost 0-1 on the road that round. Liverpool drew 1-1 in Matchday 38, and the English media have listed the Reds among the Big Six clubs that could sign Mbappé—if the deal materializes, it would affect cross-league branding and wage structures, but it remains rumor for now.
Locker Room Ledger: Who’s More “One of Their Own”
From an operations standpoint, sale decisions often start with the dressing-room vote. Reports say Mbappé has kept his distance from several teammates, while Vinícius has won broader backing through recent on-pitch success and his network within the squad. Senior figures therefore lean this way: if the situation does not improve, selling Mbappé in a future window is more realistic than moving Vinícius; conversely, “sell Vinícius, keep Mbappé”—though in theory it could free the left flank for him—remains less likely for now.
The professional read is that Real Madrid is not suddenly short of cash; rather, Mbappé’s off-field tempo, public criticism, and positional crowding have broken the “staying equals stability” equation. If he cannot rebuild trust with first-team-level performances and a lower profile over the remaining fixtures, the Bernabéu may well repeat the cold-shoulder playbook used with past club legends—withdraw protection first, then wait for bids.
What to watch next
Fans can track three fronts: whether Mbappé’s place in the starting pecking order rises again in marquee fixtures; whether his areas of involvement still overlap with Vinícius’s when they share the pitch; and whether the club sends clearer stay-or-sell signals before the summer window. Whether Arbeloa can keep their possession edge while giving the two a clear division of roles will directly decide whether this “possible blockbuster sale” cools off or actually happens.
