Madrid beat Real Oviedo 2-0 at the Bernabéu, with Gonzalo García opening the scoring and Jude Bellingham adding a second that Mbappé assisted after coming on as a substitute in the 68th minute. When the France captain entered the pitch he was greeted by loud whistles from sections of the Madrid support — a week after his absence through a hamstring injury allowed Barcelona to clinch the LaLiga title at the Camp Nou.
Mbappé changed out of his kit before seeking out reporters, and spoke at unusual length for a substitute appearance.
"I'm at 100% fitness. I didn't play because the coach told me I am the fourth striker behind Mastantuono, Vini and Gonzalo. I was ready to start, it was his decision and you always have to respect it. I'm not angry."
Arbeloa, moments later in his own press conference, flatly contradicted this.
"I wish I had four strikers. I don't have four strikers and I didn't say anything like that to Mbappé. He probably didn't understand me. I don't know what to tell you. I could never have told him he was the fourth attacker."
Mbappé also addressed the booing directly, striking a patient tone.
"I can't change the opinion of people. It's a way for them and I don't take it personally. I've had moments in my career where I've been whistled. It's part of the business and of life. Sometimes they're not happy, but they're always here."
On the criticism surrounding his trip to Sardinia during his recovery from the hamstring injury — reportedly taken with actress Ester Expósito — he was combative.
"You don't know what I was doing in Italy. You don't know if I was on holiday — that's your opinion. I made a mistake by not helping the team to win titles. That's the most important thing. Here the most important thing is winning titles. That's where I made a mistake, like all my teammates. The rest are opinions. People don't know the context of everything, of why I went there, whether I had the club's authorisation or not — and I did."
On the season overall.
"We started the season well, we had everything. Then we lost everything in the second half. It hurts a great deal because we had a structure and an idea of play, but we lost it all. We have to accept the criticism and come back next year. We haven't won titles. It hurts because we had the opportunity to do something better — we proved it in the first half of the season. That is not the Madrid standard. You always have to defend the club in the best way possible."
He insisted he has no intention of leaving.
"I am very happy in Madrid. Why would I want to leave?"
On the question of his role under the new manager, expected to be Mourinho.
"I have a great relationship with Xabi, he is going to be a great coach. But that is the past and we have to look forward."
Mbappé has scored 41 goals in 42 appearances this season, including the European Golden Boot. The disconnect between his individual numbers and the club's collective failure has defined a deeply troubled campaign.