Some stories in football are difficult to process.
Not because they’re complicated.
But because of the sheer scale of what they represent.
Real Madrid fans break world record petition to force Mbappe out of the club this summer
According to Sky Sports, an online petition calling for Real Madrid to sell Mbappe at the end of the season has now surpassed 30 million signatures.
A number so large it would represent the biggest petition in recorded history if those signing it are genuine.
To put that in context, the entire population of Spain is approximately 50 million.
A significant portion of them appear to have turned on the player they spent years dreaming of signing.
The immediate trigger was an image.
While recovering from a hamstring injury, Mbappe flew to Sardinia on a private jet for a romantic break with his actress girlfriend Ester Exposito.
He returned to Madrid on Sunday evening, minutes before Real Madrid kicked off away at Espanyol.
His representatives confirmed the trip had full club approval and that he was following his medical rehabilitation programme throughout.
But perception rarely cares about the facts.
Real Madrid are heading toward a second consecutive trophyless season since Mbappe arrived on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. T
The irony running underneath all of this is inescapable.
Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League in the first season after Mbappe left, and they’re back in the final this month.
His former manager Luis Enrique, has built something that functions precisely because every player works without the ball.
Mbappe doesn’t work without the ball.
He never has.
Furthermore, Mbappe was found to have caused a fight with a member of Alvaro Arbeloa’s staff.
For now, the more immediate question is whether he plays in El Clasico on Sunday.
He’ll want to answer to his accusations on the pitch.
Whether he gets the chance to do so at Camp Nou remains to be seen.
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