Inter Miami CF and Argentina star Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, becoming the first individual football player to be given the honor by the committee.
From Managing Madrid (not sure if I can paste links so I'll paste the text), first part on Arbeloa interview, which is a response to the second part from Mbappe:
Managing Madrid
3
Real Madrid CF: La Liga
Arbeloa on Mbappe’s comments: “I wish I had four strikers”
Arbeloa spoke after the game.
by Hridyam Arora
May 15, 2026, 6:38 AM GMT+8
33
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MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 14: Alvaro Arbeloa, Head Coach of Real Madrid, looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Real Oviedo at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 14, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) Getty Images
Alvaro Arbeloa spoke to the media after Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Oviedo. He was asked about Kylian Mbappe’s comments about him being the fourth-choice striker, to which he said: “I wish I had four strikers. I don’t know what to say. I don’t have four strikers, and I didn’t say that. He probably didn’t understand me; I’m not really sure what to say.”

SBNation Story
Arbeloa on whether there is a problem between them
“If I don’t play him, he can’t play. I decide; I’m the coach. I spoke with him earlier, and I don’t know how he might have interpreted it. He shouldn’t have started today because it’s not a matter of life or death. We have a match on Sunday, and he’ll definitely be the starting striker. Seven days later, he’ll have earned his place as the starting striker. I decide who plays. I understand that whoever isn’t playing isn’t happy. I can understand that he’s not happy, but it’s a decision based on the circumstances. I didn’t want to take any risks. It was the most logical, common-sense thing to do.”
Arbeloa on Mbappe saying they lost their structure
“If you’d like, you can show me the press conference and we can discuss it. I think it would be good if he thought that; he’s probably scored many more goals in the first half of the season than in the second.”
Arbeloa on Mbappe wanting to start
“I said that a player who couldn’t even make the bench four days ago should come on in the second half. He’ll start on Sunday. Gonzalo deserved to play today; I understand that those who don’t start aren’t happy. But as long as I’m in this position, I’m going to make the decisions. If they like it, fine; if not, they can wait until next time.”
Arbeloa on whether this is normal
“It hasn’t only happened with Kylian, but with many other players as well. These situations arise due to circumstances; they’ve been different for me than with other coaches at the club. I have a clear conscience, and I’m going to do the best I can. I don’t care; I’ll do what I think is best until the very last day.”
Arbeloa on Mbappe getting booed
“I always ask for the support of my players.”
Arbeloa on how they will fix Vinicius and Mbappe getting booed
“I’m sure they’ll do it; they’re capable. They’re two pillars, the most decisive players, and the club has high hopes for them. The fans are demanding, and when they return to playing like they know how, the applause will return.”
Arbeloa on whether his players are ‘ungrateful’
“I don’t expect from my players what I’ve given them; I know how players are. I know how they think, especially players of this caliber. I’m capable of understanding everything. I wouldn’t change a single thing I’ve done or said.”
Arbeloa on whether he is ‘suffering’ at the club
“You can never suffer at Real Madrid. It’s not a comfortable situation for us; we know the demands of this club, and another bad year is piling up, making things even more difficult. We have a huge responsibility; we have to go to Sevilla, and they deserve our full effort until the very end.”
Arbeloa on Santi Cazorla
“What can I say? He’s been a fantastic teammate, we’ve won so many things together, and he has a wonderful family. He’s one of the most talented players in Spanish football, and we’ve all enjoyed watching him. It’s hard to say, but as a person, he’s just as talented as he is as a player. It’s been an honor to play alongside him.”
Second part (Mbappe's interview):
Managing Madrid
5
Real Madrid CF: La Liga
Kylian Mbappe: “I have to work to be better than Vini, Mastantuono, and Gonzalo”
He spoke after the game.
by Hridyam Arora
May 15, 2026, 6:30 AM GMT+8
55
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MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 14: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid makes his way to the substitutes bench prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Real Oviedo at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 14, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) Getty Images
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe spoke in the mixed zone after his team’s 2-0 win over Real Oviedo on Thursday. He did not start the game, and was asked after some of his comments whether he has had any problems with coach Alvaro Arbeloa, to which he said: ““No, none. I’m not going to have a problem with not playing. But I have to accept the coach’s idea. I have to work to be better than Vini , Mastantuono, and Gonzalo.“

SBNation Story
Mbappe on whether he is ‘unwell’
“No, I’m fine, very well. I haven’t played because the manager told me that, for him, I’m the fourth-choice striker. I accept that and I’ll start on the bench.”
Mbappe on why he was not in the starting lineup
“Ask the manager. I was ready to start, but it’s his decision. I can’t be angry with him ; I have to respect his opinion. I have to work hard and wait to become a starter.”
Mbappe on why he did not speak before
“Because I prefer to speak here. Many don’t, and I have to look at the press to find out what they think.”
Mbappe’s analysis of the season
“I think we started the season well, in La Liga, the Champions League... but we lost it in the second half. It hurts a lot for us because I feel we had a structure and a playing style, and we lost it. That hurts a lot. As does finishing without any titles. But we must learn, accept the criticism, and come back next year with ambition.”
Mbappe’s relationship with Xabi Alonso
“I have a great relationship with him. I’m sure he’ll be a great coach, but that’s the past... and we need to look ahead. To what we can improve, change, and do better.”
Mbappe on the booing
“We have to accept it, my friend. It’s people’s opinion. Nobody’s going to die tonight. It’s normal when we don’t win, people choose players. It happens at every club.”
Mbappe on Florentino Perez
“The president is the best president in the world, the best in the history of Real Madrid. It’s difficult how he’s been treated. We can’t forget what he’s done. It’s an honor to have him.”
Mbappe on his ‘vacation’
”Vacation? That’s your opinion; you don’t know what I’ve done. Why do you say ‘vacation’? My mistake was not helping the team win titles. The rest is just opinions. Nobody knows why I left. I had the club’s permission. That sells. But I’m only focused on winning titles.
”I had the club’s permission, and I don’t watch the manager’s press conference. I have French TV at home.”
Mbappe on what’s missing this season
“Yes, I always have to score goals. It’s in my DNA, it’s what I do best. In the second half of the season I had that knee problem, which was awful. I missed a significant part of it…”
Mbappe on whether the club made a mistake
”They are never wrong, it’s the best club in the world. What hurt me the most was that people said I didn’t want to play. And when I played in the Copa del Rey, they said it didn’t make sense for me to play, and then we lost to a similar team. And then they said I didn’t want to play...”
Mbappe on the fight between Valverde and Tchouameni
”I wasn’t there, I can’t confirm. I left without knowing what happened. I had the same information as you.”
Mbappe on his knee problems
“We always talk about what’s going on. I went to Paris in full communication with the club, with the doctor… What’s being said outside… I can’t comment on everything.”
Mbappe on the World Cup
““It’s an incredible opportunity for all the players. There’s a lot of pressure, and it’s a lot of fun. I think back to the kid I was when I was in France. I hope we win and focus on what we need to do.”