José Mourinho issued a sharp rebuke to Kylian Mbappé upon the French forward’s return to Real Madrid’s training complex, in the latest chapter of tension surrounding the star’s behavior during his recovery from a knee injury.
Reporting on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, journalist Pipi Estrada revealed that Mourinho pulled Mbappé aside during breakfast—in front of several witnesses—to confront him regarding photos and video clips published while in Paris.
Estrada quoted the manager’s stern message to the player: “I will defend you on the outside when they ask me, but in here, I won’t defend you,” after Mourinho also reprimanded him for his decision to post the controversial footage online.
The issue stems from an injury Mbappé sustained during France’s match against Turkey on September 25. Real Madrid diagnosed the condition as a hyperextension of the posterior capsule in his left knee, estimating a recovery period of 10 to 12 days.
Los Blancos granted their top scorer permission to travel to Paris to consult a specialist and continue his rehabilitation program. However, his appearance at an entertainment venue and a subsequent video showing him riding a bicycle sparked widespread outrage—particularly as Mourinho had previously warned his players against cycling due to the risk of falls and secondary injuries.
The Portuguese manager’s frustration was less about the authorized travel itself than about Mbappé’s handling of the situation and publishing the clip at a delicate time, while the squad was preparing for a fixture against Villarreal amid a shaky start to the season that left them trailing Barcelona by six points.
The controversy deepened when Mbappé returned to Valdebebas and spent roughly an hour and a half at the training ground before embarking on another trip to Paris at 11:00 AM, returning to Madrid around 9:00 PM—without clear confirmation as to whether he had obtained permission for this second round trip.
Mourinho’s message underscores a willingness to shield his player in front of the media, while refusing to grant special treatment inside the dressing room. This comes amid reports suggesting both Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior could start on the bench against Villarreal, even though the club expects the Frenchman to be medically fit to play.
