Mbappé Turns Madrid Derby Fallout Into a Challenge for Real Madrid

MADRID — Kylian Mbappé used a promotional appearance for his new Swiss sponsor, On, to press Real Madrid teammates to raise their standards after a chaotic Madrid derby. Speaking to Spanish sports daily *Diario AS*, the French national team captain said the squad should focus on its own performance rather than officiating controversies.

“Other people can talk, but the players have to do more and work to bring the excitement back to the club and bring the trophies back,” Mbappé said. His remarks came as Real Madrid, the defending La Liga and European champions, faced intense scrutiny during the early part of the season.

Mbappé did not play in the Sept. 29 match at the Metropolitano Stadium. He was recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Alavés on Sept. 24, and watched as Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid finished a volatile contest in a 1-1 draw.

Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer temporarily suspended the derby for 15 minutes after Atlético supporters threw objects at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The incident sparked intense debate across Spain about the crowd’s behavior and the performance of the match officials.

Asked directly about the refereeing, Mbappé acknowledged that errors had occurred without turning his response into a formal complaint. “I have my own thoughts on what happened, but I am keeping them to myself,” he told *Diario AS*. “The referee is human and makes mistakes, and there were mistakes, but I don’t want to get into that.”

He said he had never been a player who relied on criticizing officials to explain match results and had no intention of changing that approach. Mbappé also said the squad knew it would face a hostile environment and a physical challenge at the Metropolitano, describing the match as “very difficult” while maintaining that the team had given its maximum effort.

The forward’s comments were made at an event for On, the Zurich-based sports company that has rapidly disrupted the global athletic footwear market. Tennis legend Roger Federer became an investor and active partner in 2019, and On went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021.

On’s expansion into lifestyle and performance apparel is a significant commercial vertical, while its partnership with a global icon such as Mbappé underscores the brand’s ambition to compete directly with traditional industry giants. The appearance marked a high-profile corporate moment for Real Madrid’s marquee summer signing and reflected his growing leadership role within the club.

That role has developed amid the expectations created by Mbappé’s highly anticipated free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2024, which ended a multi-year transfer saga. He has scored seven goals in his opening nine appearances under manager Carlo Ancelotti, although his integration has also brought intense tactical scrutiny as Real Madrid adjusts to his presence in the lineup.

Mbappé said the team should not allow one frustrating result to derail its broader objectives. “We must move forward with so much of the season still to play,” he said, emphasizing that long-term consistency and trophy success remain the ultimate benchmarks for his tenure in the Spanish capital.