Mourinho Defends Mbappe After Controversial Comments on Mao Zedong

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho addressed the uproar following Kylian Mbappe’s comments regarding China’s late leader Mao Zedong. When asked about the backlash during a pre-match news conference on Saturday, Mourinho emphasized the importance of discretion in today’s world, stating that “often the best thing you can do is keep your mouth shut.”

Mourinho recognized the potential for offense in contemporary discussions, but he commended Mbappe for his quick apology, characterizing the French forward as having acted “very responsibly” and demonstrating “true class.”

The controversy arose when Mbappe remarked during an episode of French talk show The Bridge that the meme that made him laugh the most portrayed him as Mao, whom he referred to as a “Chinese dictator.” This comment triggered a wave of criticism on social media, particularly in China, prompting several Chinese brands to sever ties with the football star.

In response to the negative reactions, Mbappe issued a statement on Tuesday, acknowledging that his comments were “ill-judged” and expressing regret for any pain caused to people in China and Chinese communities worldwide.

Mourinho, who previously led Real Madrid to a La Liga title in the 2011-12 season, was also questioned about concerns over being misrepresented in artificially generated video clips. He dismissed such worries, affirming his strong association with Real Madrid and Mbappe. He stated, “Both Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe have shown the class to react immediately, and I feel very well represented by both of them.”