Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has declared that the club and forward Kylian Mbappé have fulfilled their obligations in addressing the fallout from Mbappé’s controversial remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The controversy erupted after a video surfaced from a French podcast in which Mbappé discussed an online meme featuring his face photoshopped onto Mao, referring to the late figure as a dictator. Mbappé subsequently apologized for the ill-judged comments, while both Real Madrid and La Liga issued official statements of regret. Speaking ahead of Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Racing Santander, Mourinho praised the prompt response of both the player and the club while cautioning global athletes about the inherent risks of public commentary in today’s media landscape.
Despite the swift apologies, the incident has triggered severe commercial and diplomatic repercussions in China, one of European football’s largest international markets. Several major Chinese brands severed sponsorship agreements with Mbappé, while state media outlets and broadcasters, including CCTV, initiated a broadcast blackout of Real Madrid matches. To contain the mounting public relations crisis, La Liga president Javier Tebas formed a specialized crisis unit and met directly with Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing to help restore commercial and broadcast relations in the region.
While Spanish league officials and corporate leaders work to defuse long-term diplomatic friction, Mourinho made clear that football operations have shifted focus back to the pitch. Commending Mbappé for acting responsibly after realizing the impact of his words, the manager emphasized that Real Madrid has handled the sensitive situation with proper professionalism and considers its direct role in the matter concluded.
