José Mourinho has dismissed criticism of Kylian Mbappé’s conduct during the international break as “ridiculous” and confirmed that the forward will start against Villarreal. Real Madrid go into the game six points behind Barcelona, with the Clásico two weeks away.
José Mourinho has called criticism of Kylian Mbappé “ridiculous”, ESPN reported.
Speaking on Friday, October 9, the Real Madrid coach also confirmed that Mbappé will start Saturday’s LaLiga match against Villarreal at the Bernabéu.
What the Row Is About
Mbappé was injured in his first game on duty with France on September 25.
During his recovery he was photographed entering a nightclub in Paris and then on holiday in Switzerland. He also posted a video of himself riding a bicycle, an activity Mourinho had previously cited as an example of something footballers should not do.
It followed a similar episode late last season, when Mbappé was pictured on a yacht while recovering from injury as his team-mates fought for the title.
Mourinho’s Defence
“It’s ridiculous,” Mourinho said, when asked whether the criticism was exaggerated. “I thought there were enough real ‘cases’ in the football world in the last few weeks, but it seems like they weren’t enough.”
He said Madrid’s injured players had been “exemplary”. Mbappé, he said, received his diagnosis at the club, consulted an outside specialist “because his knee has a history that you can’t forget”, and the two opinions agreed completely.
He also offered his own account of the trips. The Paris venue was “a club that had been transformed for a private event”. The Swiss resort was “just a hotel, with little houses, and each house had some bikes” to reach the restaurants and spa.
‘You Don’t Have to Be Einstein’
Mourinho suggested there was a coordinated campaign, involving parts of the media, to have supporters whistle Mbappé during the Villarreal game.
“You don’t have to be Einstein to see that this is the objective,” he said. “I hope the Bernabeu can be fair, and that means being intelligent, being able to read between the lines.”
The Context
- Madrid are six points behind leaders Barcelona
- Their October fixtures end with El Clásico at Camp Nou on October 25
Mbappé has scored heavily in his two seasons in Madrid and is among the candidates for the Ballon d’Or after his World Cup with France this summer. He has not yet won a major trophy with the club.
Image: Kylian Mbappé playing for France in July 2026. Photo by Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
