Kylian Mbappe pictured carrying girlfriend Ester Exposito’s dresses during Barcelona break

Kylian Mbappe has attracted attention away from football after sharing a light-hearted holiday photograph in which he appears to be carrying several dresses belonging to his girlfriend, Spanish model Ester Exposito.

The Real Madrid forward posted the image on Instagram, smiling as he held the clothes while out with Exposito. The unusual scene prompted a strong reaction from supporters, who quickly shared and discussed the picture across social media.

Spanish newspaper Marca responded with its own tongue-in-cheek description of the moment, writing: “Mbappe turns into a clothes rack for his girlfriend.” The comment referred to the way the France international was carrying the dresses during their outing.

The image emerged after Mbappe and Exposito were seen together in Barcelona during a holiday that has attracted considerable attention from the Spanish media. Photographs were taken of the pair inside the Sagrada Familia, one of Spain’s best-known tourist landmarks.

Their visit to the famous church also drew interest from visitors and media who were present at the site. The couple reportedly enjoyed a private tour of the landmark as part of their time in the city.

Reports in the Spanish press said Mbappe had chosen Barcelona for the final days of his summer holiday before returning to Madrid. He is expected to resume preparations with Real Madrid ahead of the start of the new season.

The holiday appearance provided a rare glimpse of the 26-year-old away from the football spotlight. Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid has ensured that his activities on and off the pitch continue to attract intense interest, while his time in Barcelona generated further coverage because of his company and the locations visited.

Rather than being pictured in training or during a football-related event, Mbappe was shown carrying Exposito’s dresses and smiling for the camera. That informal image became the focus of the latest attention surrounding the France and Real Madrid star.

Exposito, a Spanish fashion model, was photographed alongside Mbappe during their visit to the Sagrada Familia. The reports about their holiday, together with the Instagram post, have kept the pair at the centre of Spanish media coverage as Mbappe’s summer break approaches its conclusion.

He will now return to Madrid as preparations begin for the new campaign with Real Madrid. For the moment, however, it was his role as an improvised clothes rack rather than his performances on the pitch that provided the most widely discussed image of his holiday.