Mbappé and Real Madrid: French media now see a summer exit as possible

Kylian Mbappé is once again dominating headlines, but this time the focus is on his attitude at Real Madrid. French journalist Daniel Riolo, a prominent voice on RMC Sport, has taken the debate a step further by claiming that a departure from the Spanish club at the end of the season should not be ruled out. His assessment comes amid reports of growing unease around Florentino Pérez and a series of off-field episodes involving the striker.

• Daniel Riolo says Kylian Mbappé could leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.
• The French journalist questions the forward's mental state and his commitment to club and country.
• A trip to Paris and Switzerland, a bike ride and his absence from the Stade de France have fueled criticism.
• People close to Florentino Pérez have reportedly voiced concerns over Mbappé's behavior.
• Riolo believes the pressure of winning the Ballon d'Or is affecting the player's decisions.

Why Daniel Riolo is not ruling out a Real Madrid exit for Mbappé

Riolo was direct when discussing the forward's immediate future. He said that, given the steady build-up of controversies and the reaction inside the club, the possibility of a summer departure cannot be dismissed. His words have resonated because Madrid has been grappling for weeks with the question of why the World Cup winner has not settled as expected.

The journalist is not describing a completed break, but he warns that the current situation is pushing Mbappé away from the leadership role that was expected of him. His message underlines the sense of discomfort visible from the outside and the feeling that both player and club are going through a difficult moment.

Why the bike ride became a problem after Mourinho's comments

One of the most talked-about episodes is the image of Mbappé riding a bicycle, which was seen as a direct challenge to José Mourinho's recent remarks. The Portuguese coach had made it clear that he does not want his players using bikes during the season. The photo of Mbappé pedaling, combined with his trip to Paris and Switzerland, was viewed by the Real Madrid president's circle as an unnecessary gesture.

The bike incident is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm starting to wonder: does Mbappé still have the desire? What does he want? He seems to wake up every morning thinking: 'I'm going to mess up.' He can't keep making mistakes like this.

For Riolo, that episode is not isolated. It confirms a pattern of behavior that worries him. The player, in his view, appears to be moving in the opposite direction of what a dressing room as demanding as Real Madrid's requires.

His absence from the Stade de France raises more questions

Riolo also struggled to understand why Mbappé did not attend the national team's match at the Stade de France. In his opinion, it was not an obligation, but it was a clear opportunity to reconnect with fans and teammates. The decision to stay away was interpreted as a message of indifference that, added to other gestures, reinforces the narrative of a distant player.

I'm not saying he has to go to every away game, but on Monday at the Stade de France all the great players were there, the French football family was together. I'm not saying it's mandatory, but he has the right to do something instead of sending this message of 'I don't care what you think'.

That absence was seen as another communication error at a time when the striker needs to rebuild his connection with those around him. Riolo listed a series of repeated refusals that, according to him, are damaging the forward's public image and giving more arguments to his critics.

Ballon d'Or obsession and a drastic sponsor change

The RMC Sport journalist believes that the obsession with winning the Ballon d'Or is shaping Mbappé's decisions. Rather than motivating him, that ambition is creating constant tension that shows in his public statements and his attitude. Riolo points to the remarks that offended his friend Ousmane Dembélé as an example of a player who does not measure the consequences of his words.

Added to that pressure is a dramatic sponsorship change, which Riolo considers poorly managed. The journalist cannot understand who is advising the striker or what strategy he is following, and he believes that the lack of control around the player is a sign that something is not right.

I get the impression that he is not in a good place mentally. When you leave him at the World Cup, everything is fine. He is with his friends, he has a great time, he projects a fantastic image. Then the obsession with the Ballon d'Or leads him to make this statement... You offend one of your friends, which is a shame, but you do it anyway.

An increasingly uncertain future for Mbappé at Madrid

Riolo has made it clear that he is not declaring Mbappé's time at Real Madrid over, but he does believe the possibility of an exit exists. The journalist thinks that the accumulation of controversies and the difficulty in finding personal and professional balance make it inevitable to talk about a turning point at the end of the season. His conclusion points to the fact that no one in the player's inner circle is stopping him, which worsens the sense of drift.

At Real Madrid, every move is now being examined closely. Although the club has not made any official comment, the messages coming from the president's surroundings describe growing frustration with the forward's conduct. The season remains alive and Mbappé's focus should be on the pitch, but the spotlight is shifting increasingly toward what happens away from it.