With Real Madrid fans turning and Mourinho targeting new strikers, Chelsea and Xabi Alonso emerge as potential lifeline for Mbappe after a turbulent season.
Turmoil and high drama have engulfed Real Madrid as Kylian Mbappe, once the jewel in the Bernabeu’s crown, finds himself at a crossroads after a turbulent two-year stint in Spain. The French superstar, who arrived with sky-high expectations following his blockbuster move from Paris Saint-Germain, now faces mounting pressure both on and off the pitch, with his future in Madrid hanging by a thread and Premier League giants Chelsea reportedly circling for his signature.
Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid was supposed to usher in a new era of dominance. Instead, the 27-year-old forward has seen his dream turn sour despite individually dazzling in white. Since joining Los Blancos, Mbappe has racked up an astonishing 41 goals in 43 games across all competitions and clinched the European Golden Boot last season. Yet, collective glory has eluded him and his club: Barcelona have claimed LaLiga in both of his seasons at Madrid, and Mbappe is still chasing that elusive first Champions League crown. To add salt to the wound, his former club PSG lifted the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history during their very first season without him.
But it’s not just silverware that’s missing for Mbappe. The French World Cup winner has endured a string of setbacks and controversies that have cast a shadow over his time in Spain. He’s lost El Clásico five times, and a recent hamstring injury sidelined him for crucial matches, including a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona that handed their rivals yet another league title. During his injury layoff, photos surfaced of Mbappe vacationing in Sardinia with his partner, actress Ester Exposito, sparking outrage among Madridistas. The backlash was swift and severe: an online petition demanding his sale has soared past 73 million signatures, and he’s been routinely booed by home fans, most recently when he came off the bench in a 2-0 win over Real Oviedo.
Mbappe himself has admitted to feeling marginalized at Madrid. After the Oviedo match, he told reporters, “I’m 100 per cent fine. I didn’t play because the coach [Alvaro Arbeloa] 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. I was ready to start, it’s his decision and it always has to be respected. I have no problem at all with Arbeloa. You have to accept the coach’s philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono.”
It’s a remarkable fall from grace for a player of Mbappe’s stature. The situation has only grown more complicated with the impending arrival of Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid’s new manager. Mourinho, known for his ruthlessness and tactical acumen, is reportedly planning to bring in a new number 9 to replace or compete with Mbappe. According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Mourinho’s top targets are Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic. The message is clear: no one’s place is safe, not even the marquee signing from Paris.
For Real Madrid, this shake-up is seen as a necessary step after a second consecutive season without silverware. The club’s president, Florentino Perez, sacked Xabi Alonso in January, appointing Alvaro Arbeloa as interim boss. Arbeloa, a club legend, announced his exit earlier this month, expressing gratitude and hope for a future return: “I’m leaving Real Madrid with a great deal of gratitude towards my players… I hope it’s just a temporary farewell; I’ve always considered Madrid my home.” But with Mourinho’s arrival, the winds of change are blowing fiercely through the Bernabeu.
Mbappe’s relationship with Madrid has become so strained that European football experts are speculating about a sensational Premier League move. Chelsea, under new manager Xabi Alonso, are rumored to be preparing a bold bid to bring Mbappe to Stamford Bridge. Alonso, who was highly successful at Bayer Leverkusen and is now tasked with restoring Chelsea’s fortunes, is said to be central to the club’s summer recruitment strategy. Andy Brassell, a European football analyst, told talkSPORT, “They need experience… He’s [Alonso] so good at developing young players. He needs experience as well.” Brassell named Mbappe as a top target, alongside Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni.
Alonso’s connection with Mbappe could be the ace up Chelsea’s sleeve. The Frenchman has spoken fondly of his time working with Alonso at Madrid, even as he fired a thinly veiled shot at departing coach Arbeloa by suggesting the club lost its structure after Alonso left. “I think it’s definitely a connection that would work,” Brassell asserted. “Mbappe actually liked Xabi Alonso, and he’s talked about that publicly quite a lot, actually. He’s someone who really felt the click with him as the coach.” The possibility of reuniting with Alonso is seen as a potential catalyst for Mbappe’s Premier League switch.
For Chelsea, a club that once trialed a teenage Mbappe but failed to secure his signature, this could be a chance to rewrite history. Former Chelsea scout Daniel Boga recalled how close the Blues came to signing the future star, but talks broke down. Now, nearly two decades later, the stars may be aligning for a blockbuster transfer. “If you sign these three players and have Xabi Alonso as the coach, Chelsea are immediately Premier League contenders,” Brassell argued. “You’re looking at a guy who will come into the Premier League in Mbappe and score 30 goals straight off the bat, no doubt about it. He’s still very much at his peak. He’s got loads to come. He can deal with physical attention as he has done in France before. It just feels like this deadlock at Real Madrid needs to be broken, really. Imagine how that would shake up European football.”
The bookmakers seem to agree that a move is on the cards. As of May 23, 2026, Chelsea are listed at 6/1 to be Mbappe’s next club, behind Arsenal (4/1) and Manchester United (5/1), but ahead of European rivals like Barcelona and various German and Italian clubs. With Mourinho plotting new signings and the Bernabeu faithful turning, the prospect of Mbappe donning Chelsea blue is no longer far-fetched.
As the dust settles on another trophyless campaign for Real Madrid, all eyes are on Mbappe and his next move. Will he stay and fight for his place under Mourinho, or will he seek a fresh start in London under the guidance of Xabi Alonso? The summer transfer window promises to be a rollercoaster, and the football world is watching with bated breath. For now, Mbappe’s future remains one of the most tantalizing storylines in European football.
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