Mourinho reprimands Mbappé in private and promises to defend him publicly

José Mourinho reprimanded Kylian Mbappé in a private meeting and promised to defend him publicly. Press reports describe a discussion between the Portuguese coach of Real Madrid and the French forward amid criticism of Mbappé following a knee injury sustained with his national team.

The meeting reportedly took place at Real Madrid’s training centre in Valdebebas. According to accounts of the exchange, Mourinho strongly rebuked Mbappé while assuring him he would support him in front of the media and supporters. Another report places their one-to-one conversation over breakfast on Tuesday. Mourinho is said to have criticised some of Mbappé’s recent behaviour, while making clear that he would back him when he spoke publicly but would not conceal his mistakes in internal discussions.

Mbappé injured his left knee on 25 September during the match between France and Turkey in the UEFA Nations League. Criticism intensified after photos emerged showing him at a nightclub in Paris with his partner, Ester Expósito, as well as a video of a cycling outing in the Swiss Alps.

In Spain, some voices viewed the behaviour as a challenge to Real Madrid’s leadership. A Radio Marca journalist also raised the possibility that Mbappé had asked the club to support his bid for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, and that the request had been rejected. Those reports prompted questions about possible tensions within the club. Concern about the player in Madrid, alongside speculation about his relationship with the club and coaching staff, is said to persist.

Attention is now turning to Mourinho’s next public comments, with Mbappé’s situation continuing to attract controversy. The forward resumed individual training on Monday in the hope of playing against Villarreal next Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu. Whether he will start remains uncertain; he could be on the bench alongside Vinícius Júnior. Real Madrid supporters will also be watching developments in his fitness, his conduct off the pitch and his relationship with the coaching staff.