Kylian Mbappe was seen dining with Ester Expósito in Cagliari, Italy, on May 1 after the pair had previously been spotted together in Paris and after Mbappe had picked her up by car at her house. They were photographed at Lo Scoglio Cagliari, a restaurant that opened in 1958 and later posted a picture of Mbappe on its social media.
The trip landed at a sensitive moment for Real Madrid. Mbappe had suffered a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg in the match against Betis, leaving Madrid trying to manage its last realistic chance to stay in the LaLiga race with FC Barcelona ahead 85 to 74 and holding an 11-point lead. The club was hoping to have Mbappe available for the Clasico next Sunday, May 10, but the Cagliari outing quickly drew criticism from some supporters online.
Fans who saw the photos framed the issue as one of focus as much as fitness. One wrote, “71 million euros down the drain for the second consecutive season. He only shows up against Talavera.” Another said, “It seems that, since his injury, he has mentally checked out... he seems unmotivated and disinterested,” while a third added, “I can understand his frustrations, but his attitude is disappointing and insulting to the club and the fans...,”
The backlash fits a broader unease around Madrid’s run-in, where every absence and every distraction is magnified. Mbappe’s injury already put his availability in doubt, as outlined in coverage of the squad situation at Espanyol and after a 2-1 win over Alavés, and his trip to Sardinia gave critics a fresh reason to question whether he is fully locked in for the stretch that remains.
For Madrid, the immediate question is not whether Mbappe can be photographed in Italy, but whether he can recover in time to matter on the pitch next Sunday. If he does not, the club will head into the Clasico without the player it most needs, and if he does, the debate over how he spent the days before it will not disappear quickly.