Mbappé says his shirt gesture honored migrant victims, not Ceuta opposition
Kylian Mbappé explained that his partial display of the "Todos somos caballas" shirt was meant to acknowledge migrants who died during the Ceuta crossing, not to reject the city.
In the Tuesday LaLiga fixture at Estadio Martínez Valero, Real Madrid and Elche players were expected to wear white shirts bearing the slogan "Todos somos caballas" in support of Ceuta after a recent migration crisis. Mbappé, Vinícius and Ibrahima Konaté chose to roll up the shirts so the slogan was not fully visible and took them off before the rest of the squad. The move sparked controversy, with some interpreting it as a rejection of the campaign.
Mbappé later clarified to As that his aim was to extend the solidarity message to include migrants who lost their lives during the Ceuta invasion, while still supporting the city. He said his decision reflected personal sensitivities rather than a stance against the initiative. Real Madrid defended the players' individual freedom, noting the club respects personal choices within the team.
Why it matters
The incident highlights tensions between collective club campaigns and individual players' expressions of humanitarian concern.
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