LaLiga2 hours ago1 minute read

Why Mbappe Rolled Up His Ceuta T-Shirt

Kylian Mbappe has explained why he and teammates covered up a message supporting Ceuta before Real Madrid's recent LaLiga match.

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Real Madrid stars face criticism

Kylian Mbappe has defended his decision to obscure a T-shirt supporting the Spanish city of Ceuta before a recent Real Madrid match.

Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Ibrahima Konate rolled up the shirts to their chests during the pre-match presentation. This partially covered the message "We're all from Ceuta" before Real Madrid's 3-2 win against Elche.

The action sparked criticism online and in the Spanish media. Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, has been at the center of a migration crisis since July, when tens of thousands of people crossed the border from Morocco.

Mbappe explains his actions

Mbappe spoke to the newspaper Diario AS on Wednesday to clarify his stance. He explained that while the clubs agreed players would wear the shirts, he did not want to ignore the plight of the migrants.

The striker said he stands in full solidarity with Ceuta but also wanted to show support for the migrants who have lost their lives or face harsh conditions.

Mbappe said he is human and does not "want to prioritize one form of suffering over another." The forward, whose mother is of Algerian descent and father emigrated from Cameroon, added that he wants peace and hopes the situation is resolved quickly.

A similar situation occurred with Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli. He faced criticism from Moroccan fans after wearing the shirt before a game against Villarreal. Abde said on social media that he would not apologize, stating the shirt had no political aim.

What it means for the next game

Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid (LaLiga, Sun, 20 Sep): Atlético Madrid win 28%, draw 26%, Real Madrid win 46%; expected goals 1.19 to 1.58. Our safest pick: Over 1.5 goals.