Mourinho calls Mbappe criticism ridiculous and defends Madrid star
Jose Mourinho has called criticism of Kylian Mbappe “ridiculous” after the Real Madrid forward’s activities during the international break sparked debate in Spain.
Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, came out in defence of his star player this week. He said the reaction to Mbappe’s time away from the pitch had gone too far, according to BBC Sport.
The row started with an injury. Mbappe, the 27-year-old captain of France, withdrew from international duty after hurting himself against Turkey on 25 September. He then missed France’s games during the international break, the scheduled pause when clubs stop playing and footballers link up with their national teams.
Instead of playing, Mbappe posted on social media. One set of images showed him at a Paris Fashion Week event. Another showed him riding a bicycle.
That second photo caused particular noise. Mourinho had previously said riding a bicycle was against his rules for players, because of the risk of injury. Mourinho said the picture had been misrepresented. He said it was taken in Switzerland, where bicycles at Mbappe’s hotel complex were available for guests to use for short journeys.
Mourinho was firm in public. He also laid down a clear warning about standards. He promised that any Real Madrid player who fails to behave correctly will be left at home and not even named on the bench.
Spanish outlet Estrada has reported a tougher private message alongside that public backing, claiming Mourinho told Mbappe: “Outside I will defend you, here I won’t,” via Yahoo Sports. That report has not been confirmed by the club, but it fits Mourinho’s long reputation for protecting players in public and challenging them behind closed doors.
The timing matters. Real Madrid are six points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga, Spain’s top division, after seven games. It is early in the season. But every dropped point is loud at a club that expects to win.
Mbappe’s form is central to closing that gap. He scored 42 goals in 44 club games last season, yet Real Madrid finished the campaign with no trophies. For France, he won the World Cup Golden Boot, the award for top scorer, with 10 goals and now holds a record career tally of 22 World Cup goals. France finished fourth at that tournament.
What makes this stand out is the balance Mourinho is trying to strike. He wants to shield a tired, injured forward from outside noise. He also wants to remind the dressing room that the rules still apply.
For fans, this means the next team sheet will say more than any statement. If Mbappe starts, the message is rest and recovery worked. If he does not, the questions will start again.
