Mourinho discusses Mbappé’s clash with Arbeloa in the Real Madrid match.

Benfica manager José Mourinho has commented on the current dispute between Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa and Kylian Mbappé.

Mbappé publicly challenged Arbeloa’s squad selection after being left out of the title‑deciding match against Barcelona, claiming he had been relegated to fourth‑choice striker at the Bernabéu.

Arbeloa replied that Mbappé had “misunderstood” his remarks and insisted the Frenchman’s allegations were untrue.

When asked about the situation, Mourinho said: “It hurts. Because, as you rightly say, he (Arbeloa) is a friend. One of those who gave everything for me when I was his player, and now that he’s the Real Madrid coach, that connection remains… Of course, being a coach himself motivates me even more when things go well.”

“But that’s the life of a coach. I often joke with my former players who become coaches, telling them, ‘Wait a couple of years and you’ll see how many grey hairs you get.’ And then they realise that being a player is easier than being a coach. I’m happy with what he’s already achieved.”