Kylian Mbappé is increasingly being linked with a possible move away from Real Madrid despite only joining the Spanish giants in 2024, with reports in England and Spain claiming frustration around the forward has exploded following a difficult season at the Santiago Bernabéu. The France international arrived in Madrid on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and was expected to become the final piece in Real Madrid’s next Galáctico era. Individually, Mbappé’s numbers remain extremely strong. The 27-year-old striker has scored 85 goals and registered 11 assists in 100 appearances for Los Blancos since arriving in Spain. But despite those statistics, Real Madrid are now staring at a second consecutive season without a major trophy, while tensions inside the dressing room have increasingly spilled into public view.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with Vinicius Junior, left, and Brahim Diaz after scoring his side’s third goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Recent reports have detailed internal conflicts involving several senior players, including the training-ground altercation between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, as well as wider concerns surrounding dressing-room egos and divisions. Mbappé himself also faced criticism after traveling to Italy with partner Ester Expósito while recovering from injury.
Emmanuel Petit backs Arsenal move for Mbappé
Former Arsenal FC midfielder Emmanuel Petit has now suggested the Premier League side would be an ideal destination for Mbappé if he were to leave Madrid. Speaking through the London Evening StandardPetit claimed Mbappé would fit perfectly into Mikel Arteta’s side. “Arsenal would love Kylian Mbappe and he’d be perfect on their left wing,” Petit said. As things stand, Arsenal remain firmly in the race for both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League, with Arteta’s side having reached the Champions League final against former club PSG.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in London, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)
Petit believes Arsenal potentially winning Europe’s biggest club competition could dramatically strengthen their pull in the transfer market. “If Arsenal win the Champions League for the first time then it would change the course of their history and send a strong message in the transfer market,” he explained. However, Petit also admitted he still expects Mbappé to stay at Real Madrid unless the club itself decides otherwise. “The only reason I think Mbappe will stay at Real Madrid is because if he leaves without winning a trophy it would make his move a failure,” Petit said. “Mbappe has a huge ego so he will probably want to stay and to prove the opposite. I’m pretty sure about that. “I don’t see him leaving Madrid, probably the biggest club in the world, unless the decision is made for him.”
Petit questions dressing-room situation at Real Madrid
Petit also spoke at length about what he sees as a growing issue inside Real Madrid’s dressing room. According to the former France midfielder, the club’s collection of superstar personalities has become increasingly difficult to manage. “It’s getting to the point that a decision has to be made from Florentino Pérez,” Petit said. “The petition of ten million Madrid fans that want Mbappe to leave, I have never seen that before. “If I were Florentino Perez, to be honest with you, I would make a huge turnover in the dressing room next transfer window, definitely.” Petit continued: “I would ask myself this simple question: ‘Who is going to be the star of the team next season? I bought Kylian Mbappe and in the last two years we have had so many troubles on and off the pitch since then.’ “You can see that the egos of the players are becoming the biggest issue in this club. “They are becoming impossible to manage.” The Frenchman also suggested recent managers have struggled to control the personalities within the squad. “When you are the manager of Real Madrid, you don’t come with a vision, you come as a manager. You manage the egos in the dressing room. “This is how it works at Madrid. “And the fight is, the last two managers, Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa, have been struggling to manage the egos because those stars are more important than the manager, and they are fighting you.”
‘Mbappé Out’ petition reaches extraordinary numbers
One of the most remarkable developments surrounding Mbappé’s difficult season has been the explosion of an online petition demanding his exit from Real Madrid.The petition was originally launched with a target of 200,000 signatures but has since grown into a global online movement. At the time of writing, it has reportedly reached close to 73 million signatures. While the authenticity of every signature cannot realistically be verified, the scale of the backlash has still become a major talking point around the club.
France forward Kylian Mbappé (10) sits on a ball during the warm-up before the international friendly soccer match between Colombia and France in Landover, Md., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The “Mbappé Out” movement has continued spreading across social media, fueled by criticism of the forward’s work rate, missed chances in major matches and the belief among sections of supporters that he and Vinícius Júnior are incompatible in the same attack.
Liverpool also linked with Mbappé
Despite transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently reporting that Real Madrid have no plans to sell Mbappé this summer, rumors around Premier League interest continue to grow. According to Football InsiderLiverpool FC remain interested in the French superstar. Journalist Pete O’Rourke, speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, said Mbappé would be a dream signing for English football. “I’m sure they would love the chance to try and sign Kylian Mbappe, undoubtedly one of the world’s best players,” O’Rourke said. “Obviously, there’s been a bit of furore around Mbappe because he’s had a bit of an up and down season and there’s a lot going on at Real Madrid right now. “He would be a dream signing for the Premier League because he’s still the biggest star probably in football right now. It would be great to see him in the Premier League.” O’Rourke also acknowledged the enormous financial challenge involved in any possible deal. “It would be a huge financial outlay as well for any club if they were looking to sign Mbappe,” he said. “Transfer fee, wages all included, there’s only a certain few clubs who could afford that. “If the door does open for Mbappe, you would expect all the Premier League big-guns to try and lure him away because that opportunity to sign a player like Mbappe doesn’t come around too often.”
