Kylian Mbappé responded to criticism after being seen only partially displaying a “Todos somos caballas” shirt before Real Madrid’s match, a gesture organized by La Liga, Real Madrid and Elche to support Ceuta, clarifying that clubs, not players, decided on the shirts and that he fully supports Ceuta residents.
The shirts were organized jointly by La Liga, Real Madrid, and Elche, carrying the slogan “Todos somos caballas” (“We are all mackerels”), a colloquial term for Ceuta residents, alongside the city’s name and the Spanish coat of arms on the back.
The campaign was promoted by the Asociación Valenciana de Empresarios with league backing, aimed at showing solidarity with Ceuta following a large influx of undocumented Moroccan migrants into the Spanish autonomous city in late July, when tens of thousands crossed over a short period.
Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté were also seen carrying or partially wearing their shirts rather than fully displaying the printed slogan.
Some reports indicated Mbappé and Vinícius later removed the shirts entirely before the pre-match handshake.
Responding to the backlash, Mbappé clarified that the decision to wear the shirts had been made by the clubs and that players were expected to comply as part of the organized gesture.
He stressed his full solidarity with Ceuta and its residents, while also expressing concern for migrants who lost their lives or continue to live in difficult conditions.
“No suffering should be prioritized,” Mbappé said, describing his position as rooted in humanitarian concern rather than political intent.
He said he hoped for a swift resolution to the crisis and wanted his gesture to reflect a broader message of empathy toward all those affected by hardship, rather than division.
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