Former Real Madrid player and manager Jose Antonio Camacho has defended Kylian Mbappe after another difficult week of heavy criticism in Spain.
The French forward has come under pressure over his behaviour away from the pitch and his reaction to recent squad decisions. But Camacho believes the scrutiny around Mbappe has gone too far and says the reality of life at an elite club is often misunderstood.
Mbappe was criticised after travelling to Italy while recovering from a left hamstring injury suffered against Real Betis in late April. His visible frustration after being left on the bench against Real Oviedo also created debate among supporters and the Spanish media.
With Real Madrid facing the prospect of a trophy-less season, every incident involving the club’s biggest stars has been magnified. Mbappe has found himself at the centre of that storm.
Camacho, however, praised the forward for not hiding from the pressure.
“He stood his ground; anyone else wouldn’t have come out at the Bernabeu,” Camacho told AS. “He did it, whereas someone else might have kept a low profile to avoid being booed.”
The former left-back, who won nine La Liga titles during his time with Real Madrid, believes Mbappe deserves credit for facing the fans in a difficult moment.
Camacho also defended the player’s trip during his injury recovery, suggesting the situation had been blown out of proportion. He argued that players of Mbappe’s level are placed under extreme daily scrutiny and that people outside the club do not always know the full context.
“When you’re talking about players of such elite calibre, things get out of hand,” Camacho said. “If he went out there, it’s because he was given permission to do so.”
He also stressed that injured players are usually placed on strict recovery schedules and that Mbappe would have been expected to follow the club’s instructions.
“In these cases of injury, players have strict schedules to stick to, and I’m sure Mbappe did his bit to look after himself,” he added.
For Mbappe, the coming weeks could be crucial. His talent remains unquestioned, but the pressure at Real Madrid is relentless, especially when results fall below expectations.
Camacho’s message is clear: Mbappe may deserve criticism when performances drop, but the reaction around him should not ignore the demands, permission structures and pressures that come with being one of the biggest players in world football.
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