Jose Mourinho slams 'ridiculous' Kylian Mbappe obsession after nightclub and cycling storm - 'Real Madrid is Real Madrid'
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Updated 09/10/2026 at 13:53 GMT+1
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has hit out at "ridiculous" reporting of Kylian Mbappe’s activities during the international break and urged the media to focus on Manchester City or Cristiano Ronaldo instead.
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The France star picked up a knee injury while on international duty with Les Bleus, but subsequently posted pictures of himself entering a Paris nightclub and riding a bicycle in Switzerland – something Mourinho had previously discouraged.
But ahead of Real’s return to La Liga action against Villarreal on Saturday, Mourinho accused the press of drumming up a narrative to damage the club, instead of focusing on stories like the charges facing Manchester City or Ronaldo walking out of the Portugal camp.
"It's ridiculous," Mourinho told a his pre-match press conference when asked if criticism of Mbappe’s activities was exaggerated.
He continued: "I thought there were enough real 'cases' in the football world in the last few weeks, but it seems like they weren't enough.
"Not even huge cases like the (Manchester) City one, or old stories that you seem to love talking about, like the difficult situation involving my country, Cristiano Ronaldo and his coach.
"There are so many stories that could keep you busy, but apparently that hasn’t been enough. Real Madrid is Real Madrid, and there’s always something you have to find."
Mourinho went on to explain the situation around the French striker’s injury, and defended him over the cycling and nightclub photographs.
"I don't lie. The truth is that in this period, Real Madrid's players have been exemplary in their professional situation," Mourinho said.
"Those who were injured came straight to Valdebebas, got their diagnosis, and got their rehab plan.
"Mbappe was here, he got his diagnosis, he went to an external consultant - because his knee has a history that you can't forget - and there was total agreement with Real Madrid's diagnosis and this external consultant.
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"In terms of his recovery, you don't have to know all the details. But then we get into the area of looking for problems.
"[In Paris] it was a club that wasn't a club," Mourinho added.
"It was a club that had been transformed for a private event. Then in Switzerland, it was just a hotel, with little houses, and each house had some bikes to get to where the restaurants and spa was. It was absolute tranquility."
Mourinho was pressed on whether he thought the Bernabeu crowd could boo or be hostile towards Mbappe for his behaviour during the international break.
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The striker is among the frontrunners to win the Ballon d’Or at the end of the month, but is yet to lift a major trophy in two seasons in Madrid.
"I hope the Bernabeu can be fair, and that means being intelligent, being able to read between the lines," Mourinho said.
"When a Real Madrid player fails to fulfil his obligations, whether as a player or as a citizen, the fans won’t even see that player on the bench.
"They won’t have the opportunity to boo him, either when he plays or when he’s on the bench, because he will be at home. He will be at home, without even having the opportunity to sit on the bench.
"That said, Mbappe is going to play tomorrow. He’s not going to be on the bench, he’s going to play. And if he’s going to play, it’s because I think - no, I don’t think, I know - that he has not failed Real Madrid."
Mbappe has scored eight goals in eight appearances in all competitions for Real this season, but Mourinho’s side already have some catching up to do in La Liga.
A 2-1 defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid, after which Mourinho sparked controversy by printing out images of decisions he thought went against his side, left Real in fourth place, six points behind leaders Barcelona.
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