Real Madrid: The Ceuta controversy, Mbappé explains his gesture

Kylian Mbappé addressed the controversy that arose during the match between Real Madrid and Elche (3-2) on Tuesday in La Liga. The French striker, like Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konaté, had chosen to fold his shirt to avoid fully displaying the message about the situation in Ceuta.

The gesture did not go unnoticed. The jersey worn by the Real Madrid players featured a message of support for the inhabitants of Ceuta, a Spanish enclave located on the northern coast of Morocco and facing strong migratory pressure in recent months.

In an interview with the Spanish daily AS, Kylian Mbappé clarified his position. The French national team captain insisted that his gesture in no way constituted opposition to the inhabitants of Ceuta.

"I want to be clear so that everyone understands. It was the clubs' decision to wear this jersey. We, the players, had to wear it," explained the Madrid striker, before expressing his solidarity with the inhabitants of the enclave.

Mbappé also wanted to extend his message to migrants facing difficult situations. "First, I want to express my full solidarity with Ceuta and all the victims. Because before being a player, I am a human being," he said.

The Frenchman acknowledged, however, that his decision could be misinterpreted. "It wasn't an easy position, far from it, because people might think I'm against the people of Ceuta. But no, absolutely not," he insisted.

The Real Madrid player thus claims that he wanted to show his compassion for all those affected by this situation, without pitting the suffering of some against that of others.

“I have nothing against them, I support them 100%. But I also wanted to think about all the people who are suffering,” Mbappé continued.

Faced with the controversy, the captain of the French team finally called for overcoming divisions and prioritizing a message of peace. "I want to convey a message of positivity and peace, and I hope this situation will be resolved quickly," he concluded.

Babacar SENE