Never miss a moment with Real Madrid
Mbappe sparks intense China backlash
Mourinho has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding Mbappe, following the forward's recent comments regarding former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The France international referred to Mao as a dictator, which immediately triggered a significant fallout in the lucrative Chinese market.
In response to the growing backlash, both the player and the club swiftly issued formal apologies this week. Liga has also been forced to intervene, with league president Javier Tebas establishing a crisis unit and meeting with Chinese ambassador Yao Jing on Wednesday to contain the damage.
Mourinho praises club and player response
Speaking ahead of Madrid's upcoming fixture against Racing Santander, Mourinho expressed his satisfaction with how the situation was managed. The Portuguese tactician commended both his star forward and the club for reacting quickly to mitigate the commercial and social fallout.
"These are the dangers of today's world, where many times the best thing you can do is not open your mouth. Because there is risk in so many things you say or comment on," Mourinho stated, as quoted by Reuters.
"But I have also seen him (Mbappe) act very responsibly with a club that, at this regard, is of great class. As far as we're concerned, that's it. We have nothing more to say. Both Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe had the class to react immediately, and I feel, as manager, very well represented by both of them."
Related Topics
Fubo
✅ Carries ESPN Deportes, which broadcasts over 200 select LaLiga matches per season with traditional linear presentation and studio coverage.
✅ Includes local ABC stations and main ESPN channels for the high-profile marquee matches that are simulcast over traditional television.
✅ Allows you to record matches with unlimited Cloud DVR storage and stream up to four channels simultaneously on compatible TV devices.
DirecTV
✅ Carries local ABC stations and the main ESPN linear networks for marquee, nationally televised LaLiga fixtures without requiring an antenna.
✅ Offers ESPN Deportes either via the dedicated Spanish-first tiers (such as Óptimo Más) or as an add-on, giving you live TV commentary and dedicated studio coverage.
✅ Includes unlimited Cloud DVR storage and allows simultaneous streaming on unlimited compatible devices connected to your home network.
ESPN+
✅ Streams all 380 LaLiga fixtures throughout the season in both English and Spanish, including every El Clásico fixture.
✅ Provides full match replays, extended highlights, and Spanish football studio shows (such as LaLiga Confidential and ESPN FC) accessible whenever you want.
✅ Bundles Spanish top-flight football alongside extensive European and domestic action, including the German Bundesliga, Copa del Rey, and FA Cup.
Fubo
✅ Carries ESPN Deportes, which broadcasts over 200 select LaLiga matches per season with traditional linear presentation and studio coverage.
✅ Includes local ABC stations and main ESPN channels for the high-profile marquee matches that are simulcast over traditional television.
✅ Allows you to record matches with unlimited Cloud DVR storage and stream up to four channels simultaneously on compatible TV devices.
DirecTV
✅ Carries local ABC stations and the main ESPN linear networks for marquee, nationally televised LaLiga fixtures without requiring an antenna.
✅ Offers ESPN Deportes either via the dedicated Spanish-first tiers (such as Óptimo Más) or as an add-on, giving you live TV commentary and dedicated studio coverage.
✅ Includes unlimited Cloud DVR storage and allows simultaneous streaming on unlimited compatible devices connected to your home network.
ESPN+
✅ Streams all 380 LaLiga fixtures throughout the season in both English and Spanish, including every El Clásico fixture.
✅ Provides full match replays, extended highlights, and Spanish football studio shows (such as LaLiga Confidential and ESPN FC) accessible whenever you want.
✅ Bundles Spanish top-flight football alongside extensive European and domestic action, including the German Bundesliga, Copa del Rey, and FA Cup.
Fubo
✅ Carries ESPN Deportes, which broadcasts over 200 select LaLiga matches per season with traditional linear presentation and studio coverage.
✅ Includes local ABC stations and main ESPN channels for the high-profile marquee matches that are simulcast over traditional television.
✅ Allows you to record matches with unlimited Cloud DVR storage and stream up to four channels simultaneously on compatible TV devices.
Commercial consequences hit forward hard
The financial repercussions for Mbappe have been severe, with several major Chinese brands instantly cutting ties with the superstar. Dairy companies Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, alongside Eastroc Beverage, have all ceased their cooperation with the France captain.
Chinese state media outlet China Daily noted that the remarks threatened his commercial relationships and served as a sharp reminder of the limits of celebrity influence. The situation has also impacted the wider team's visibility in the region.
State-owned broadcaster Migu has opted to pull Madrid's upcoming domestic match from their television schedules. Mourinho confirmed that as far as the football management is concerned, they have nothing further to add on the matter.
Focus shifts to Santander clash
Despite the off-pitch distractions, Mourinho and his squad must now refocus their attention on their domestic campaign. Madrid are preparing to travel to face Santander on Sunday, a match that will not be broadcast to their Chinese fanbase.
The squad will be desperate to secure all three points as they look to close the gap at the top of the table. They currently sit third in the Liga standings, trailing leaders Barcelona by six points.