Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe was one of the first players from the club to send a farewell message to now former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso.
The Frenchman started as a substitute in the Spanish Super Cup match against Barcelona due to an injury from which he has not yet recovered. However, according to the newspaper L’Equipe, the player made an effort to play a few minutes in the second half of the final and try to rescue Xabi Alonso from possible dismissal, which in the end became a reality.
Mbappe, even with injury, always sought to save Xabi Alonso
According to the French newspaper, the 2018 World Cup winner suspected that Xabi Alonso’s days with Real Madrid were numbered if they were to lose the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona.
Mbappe, with a left knee injury, was due to be out until January 21; however, the player travelled to Saudi Arabia to be with the team and, in case he was needed, to come on as a substitute. Fortunately for him, the semi-final against Atletico Madrid ended in victory for the Merengues and his services were not required. However, in the final against Barcelona, the player ended up coming on as a substitute in the final part of the match.
Xabi Alonso sent the Frenchman onto the field in the 76th minute, replacing Gonzalo Garcia. With time running out, the Spanish league’s top scorer had to look for the equaliser that would send the game to a penalty shootout
The most outstanding play of Mbappe during the time he played in the final was the red card he caused to the Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, after he hit him with a tackle to the leg, a play that could have ended very badly for the French player.
With poor play in midfield, Kylian had no chances in front of goal and Real Madrid ended up falling 3-2 to their arch-rivals. According to L’Equipe, Mbappe should not have played any minutes or been in the squad due to his injury, but the player “sought” at all times to be useful to Xabi to prevent him from being sacked.
Did Mbappe respect Xabi Alonso?
Much has been said on social media about whether the French striker’s Instagram message to Xabi was genuine or part of a Real Madrid protocol following Alonso’s departure.
Internet users commented that the Frenchman’s message does not make much sense after the attitudes seen in the awards ceremony of the final of the Spanish Super Cup, where Xabi asked him to form a line to make a corridor for Barcelona and the Frenchman responded with rude gestures ignoring his then coach.
Although social media users comment that the truth about the Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid squad case may never be known, many netizens attribute the Spaniard’s departure to the French striker.
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