Kylian Mbappé’s uneasy first season at Real Madrid took another twist as the French star was loudly booed by sections of the Santiago Bernabéu and then appeared to contradict his own coach over why he started on the bench against Real Oviedo.

Introduced in the 69th minute of Madrid’s 2-0 LaLiga win, Mbappé replaced goalscorer Gonzalo García only to be met by whistles from parts of the home crowd. The reaction underlined a growing frustration around the forward, who has recently been criticised in Spanish media for taking a short holiday while recovering from a hamstring injury and then missing the Clásico against Barcelona.

Speaking in the mixed zone after the match, Mbappé insisted he was fully fit and suggested his omission was down to a blunt assessment from coach Álvaro Arbeloa.

“I’m well, I’m 100%,” Mbappé said. “I didn’t play because the coach told me I’m the fourth-choice forward in the squad behind Franco Mastantuono, Vinícius Júnior and Gonzalo. I accept it and play the time I’m given. I think I played well.”

Mbappé stressed he held no grudge. “I was ready to start. I’m not angry with the manager. You always have to respect a coach’s decision. I’ll work hard to get back into the starting lineup.”

Arbeloa, however, flatly rejected Mbappé’s version when he faced reporters shortly afterward.

“I wish I had four forwards,” Arbeloa said. “I don’t have four forwards, and I certainly didn’t say anything like that to Mbappé. Perhaps he didn’t understand me. At no point could I tell him that he’s the fourth-choice forward.”

The coach framed his decision as a matter of logic and dressing-room hierarchy. “A player who wasn’t on the bench four days ago shouldn’t start today. It’s not a final, it’s not a do-or-die situation. I decide who plays and who doesn’t. I don’t care what their names are.”

Mbappé, who said his brief holiday had been authorised by the club, accepted the hostile reception.

“I have to accept the whistles,” he said. “You can’t change people’s minds when they’re angry. It’s the life of a Real Madrid player, and a famous player like me. They’re not happy. That’s the only way to understand it.”

With Madrid enduring a second consecutive season without a major trophy and two league games remaining, Mbappé acknowledged the campaign had unravelled but insisted there was “no problem” with Arbeloa, only a battle to prove he deserves to start ahead of Gonzalo, Mastantuono and Vinícius.