MADRID, May 7 (Xinhua) -- With three days to go until the meeting between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, which could see Barcelona crowned La Liga champion with a draw at home, forward Kylian Mbappe has become the focus of attention.

It remains unclear if the muscle injury that ruled Mbappe out of last weekend's 2-0 win at Espanyol will allow him to feature, with the forward limited to light gym work on Wednesday.

Beyond his fitness, however, Mbappe's future at Real Madrid is attracting increasing scrutiny.

The Frenchman's output has not been in doubt. He has scored 41 goals in 41 games this season and 85 in 100 appearances for the club. Instead, questions have centered on his attitude, particularly in sections of the Madrid media.

The latest controversy came last weekend when the injured Mbappe traveled to Sardinia with his partner, with images showing the pair on a yacht. Further criticism followed reports that his private jet landed in Madrid just 10 minutes before kickoff against Espanyol, raising doubts about his engagement with the team.

Earlier in the year, Mbappe also drew attention when he traveled to France for a second opinion on a knee injury amid reports, denied by the player, that the club's medical staff had initially scanned the wrong knee.

Such incidents have gained traction in a season in which Madrid has struggled for silverware. The club's only trophy during Mbappe's two campaigns remains the 2024 UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta.

In his first season, Barcelona won La Liga and defeated Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, while Arsenal eliminated Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals. This season, Bayern Munich knocked Madrid out in the last eight, Barcelona is on the verge of the league title, and second-tier Albacete eliminated the club early in the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona also beat Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup in both 2025 and earlier this year, while Mbappe's former club Paris Saint-Germain won last season's Champions League and will face Arsenal in this year's final.

The context has fueled speculation in the Spanish press. Newspaper Marca reported this week that Mbappe has "grown apart from the team," citing concerns over his behavior within the dressing room.

The report also pointed to a perceived power struggle with Vinicius Junior, suggesting the Brazilian currently enjoys stronger backing from teammates.

Marca, widely seen as close to club president Florentino Perez, said the relationship between Mbappe and the squad had "fractured" in recent months.

While a departure would have once seemed unthinkable, Madrid faces a significant squad rebuild this summer. Reinforcements are needed in midfield, defense and at full-back, with uncertainty surrounding players including Dani Carvajal, Fran Garcia, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger.

There are also tactical questions. The attacking trio of Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and Mbappe has yet to consistently deliver, with all three favoring similar areas of the pitch.

Mbappe joined Madrid on a free transfer, albeit with a substantial signing bonus, meaning any potential sale could represent a major financial gain. A fee exceeding 150 million euros could help fund a wider rebuild.

For now, Mbappe's immediate focus is on recovering in time for Sunday's Clasico. Beyond that, uncertainty around his long-term future, once unthinkable, is beginning to surface. ■