ARTICLE AD
Alaves defender Abdel Abqar was substituted at half-time in his side’s clash with Real Madrid after he was seen swapping shirts with Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid took an immediate lead in the midweek La Liga clash through Lucas Vazquez before Mbappe made it 2-0 after 40 minutes. As the team left the pitch at half-time, Abqar was spotted taking the French forward’s shirt.
It was reported that the 25-year-old’s actions clearly didn’t sit well with coach Luis Garcia as he was replaced by Jon Guridi for the second half. However, it took Rodrygo just three minutes to put Real Madrid 3-0 up, although Alaves hit back with two late goals to see the game finish 3-2.
“A tactical thing”
The Alavés coach later denied that the central defender’s gesture was the reason for the decision to take him off, saying: “I don’t know what he did. I wanted to change something because I wanted to work on something, a little tactical thing.
Real Madrid are still unbeaten in La Liga but are trailing FC Barcelona at the top of the table. The Merengues will be in action again on Sunday against Atlético Madrid.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.