Kylian Mbappe has been criticised for discouraging his Real Madrid teammates from giving Barcelona a guard of honour after their Spanish Super Cup final defeat. The French forward, who came on as a substitute in Sunday's 3-2 loss, was seen waving away teammates as they prepared to form a guard of honour for the victors.
Barcelona's win, secured by goals from Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, marked their third consecutive cup final victory over Real Madrid. Footage of Mbappe's actions quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread condemnation from fans and officials alike.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed surprise at Mbappe's behaviour. 'In victory and defeat, you have to be generous and respectful,' Laporta told RAC-1. 'This is sport, and you have to behave normally. I think that in our victory, we were generous and respectful of the opposing team. That's why I can't understand it.'
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso defended his decision to introduce Mbappe in the 76th minute, stating the player was still recovering from a knee injury and lacked the intensity for a starting role. 'He wasn't ready to start with the intensity the match was going to have,' Alonso explained.
Despite the defeat, Real Madrid remain in contention for both the Copa del Rey and Champions League. The two sides are scheduled to meet again in La Liga at the Camp Nou in May.
