Real Madrid superstar warned he is ‘losing the affection’ of supporters

Ever since arriving in Spain to sign for Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe has enjoyed a love-hate relationship with the Spanish media.

The Frenchman's arrival was expected to be the signing that propelled a Champions League-winning side to an unstoppable level.

Instead, since Mbappe arrived, Madrid are yet to win a single piece of silverware. He is now facing another wave of criticism in Spain.

Speaking on El Chiringuito , Pedrerol questioned Mbappe's current situation at the Bernabeu and suggested that the connection between the player and Madridistas is beginning to weaken.

"Mbappe is losing the affection of Madridismo," Pedrerol said.

He then questioned how the situation had reached this point given the significance Mbappe attached to finally becoming a Madrid player.

"Hadn't he fulfilled a dream by joining Real Madrid?" he asked.

Mbappe's long-awaited arrival was supposed to represent the completion of a personal ambition as much as a major sporting move for Madrid.

He had secured the move to the Spanish capital after a couple of summers when the move looked possible but did not get over the line.

Madrid supporters demand more than goals

There is an important distinction here. Pedrerol's comments represent his assessment of the mood surrounding Mbappe.

It is not an actual suggestion that Madrid supporters as a whole have turned against the forward.

At Real Madrid, producing extraordinary numbers does not automatically guarantee an emotional connection with the Bernabeu.

Is Kylian Mbappe fully loved by the Santiago Bernabeu? (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Supporters also respond to sacrifice, availability and the sense of putting the club above everything and everyone else, and this is true even for a player of Mbappe's status.

Pedrerol also had a strong message for manager Jose Mourinho, who is another important part of this situation.

Managing Mbappe cannot simply be about extracting goals. Mourinho must ensure that one of his most important players feels completely connected to the project.

Mbappe has more than enough quality to silence this chatter in a couple of games. However, he needs to rethink his relationship with the Bernabeu.

Ultimately, it all hinges on how much success and silverware Mbappe is able to bring to the Spanish capital, and it remains to be seen how things play out.