Paris was only a passing backdrop to the latest Kylian Mbappé storm, but the noise reached Madrid quickly. José Mourinho used a long Friday press conference to insist that his Real Madrid forward had done nothing wrong during a ten-day stretch of criticism over his private life and injury recovery.
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Mbappé has faced fresh scrutiny after being seen at a Paris venue during Fashion Week and posting images of himself riding a bicycle in Switzerland. Questions have also been raised about whether he could be jeered by Real Madrid supporters.
Mourinho dismissed the controversy as “ridiculous” and said the discussion had been inflated despite more serious stories elsewhere in football, including Manchester City and the situation involving Cristiano Ronaldo and his coach in Portugal.
The Real coach accepted that footballers remain responsible around the clock, even away from training and matches. He said private actions can have consequences, while stressing that players are still human beings who can make mistakes and must take responsibility for them.
However, Mourinho said there had been no misconduct from Mbappé or any other member of his squad during the period in question.
He explained that Mbappé reported to the club for a medical assessment before seeking an outside consultation because of his previous knee issues. Mourinho said both medical opinions matched and that the forward then followed a recovery programme.
The manager also sought to clarify the two moments that fuelled the debate. The Paris appearance, he said, was not a nightclub visit but a private Fashion Week event. The bicycle images in Switzerland, meanwhile, were taken at a quiet hotel complex where bikes were used to travel between different shared areas.
“It has been made to look as though he rode across Switzerland,” Mourinho said.
Mourinho accused the media of trying to create resentment between Mbappé and the Bernabéu crowd, but said he expected supporters to judge the situation fairly and intelligently.
He added that any Real player who failed in his obligations as either a footballer or citizen would not be selected. “They would not be on the pitch to be whistled,” he said. “They would stay at home and would not even be on the bench.”
The next appointment in France
Mbappé will be involved when Real Madrid face Villarreal on Saturday. Mourinho confirmed that the forward will start rather than sit among the substitutes, saying he had not breached any duty as a Real Madrid player.
