Real Madrid has entered a new era, and it bears the number 10.

Kylian Mbappé, the club’s marquee signing and global icon, has been officially handed the iconic No. 10 jersey for the upcoming 2025–26 LaLiga season — a shirt that became synonymous with Luka Modrić over the last decade. The decision, though not unexpected, has already sent shockwaves through both the fanbase and the locker room.

Kylian Mbappé switching to No. 10 jersey at Real Madrid - source

Mbappé confirmed the jersey switch himself with a cryptic one-character post on X: “10”. No caption. No photo. Just a number. But the message was deafening — and so was the reaction.

While fans erupted in celebration, seeing the move as the final symbolic passing of the torch from one generation to the next, things behind the scenes appear to be far less harmonious. According to sources close to the club, a number of Real Madrid players were left “deeply unsettled” by how the decision was made — and some even skipped a recent training session in protest.

This internal backlash comes at a critical juncture for the Spanish giants. Modrić, who departed this summer after 13 unforgettable seasons, left behind not just a jersey number but a legacy of leadership and humility. For several veterans in the squad, the rapid reassignment of the No. 10 shirt — especially without what they felt was adequate consultation — was seen as disrespectful to the Croatian legend and to the existing team hierarchy.

“It’s not about Kylian,” one insider told Spanish media off the record. “It’s about the way it was handled. Some players felt blindsided.”

The reaction underscores the high-stakes nature of Mbappé’s arrival at the Bernabéu. As arguably the most high-profile signing in world football since Cristiano Ronaldo, expectations were always going to be astronomical. But now, with the weight of the No. 10 on his back — both literally and symbolically — Mbappé enters a pressure cooker.

Kylian Mbappe handed Real Madrid No 10 shirt following Luka Modric departure - The Athletic

Club officials have downplayed the tensions, calling the missed training “a coincidence” and insisting that all players are focused on preparing for the new season. Still, the optics of the situation are hard to ignore. A symbolic handover of this magnitude — from a quiet leader like Modrić to a generational superstar like Mbappé — was always going to stir emotions. But no one expected it to cause a fracture this soon.

Some fans online have defended the decision, arguing that if anyone has earned the right to wear Madrid’s No. 10, it’s Mbappé. Others are calling for calm, warning against early divisions that could disrupt the team’s chemistry.

As Real Madrid prepares for a season of renewed ambitions both domestically and in Europe, unity will be key. But if the locker room discord lingers, even the brilliance of Mbappé may not be enough to silence the noise.

For now, one thing is certain: the No. 10 shirt at Real Madrid has a new owner. But whether the locker room is ready to accept that remains to be seen.