Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe have moved on from China controversy

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho declared on Saturday that the club and Kylian Mbappe had responded appropriately by apologizing for Mbappe's remarks referring to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a dictator. Both Real Madrid and Mbappe swiftly apologized this week following the controversial statements, with La Liga's president Javier Tebas establishing a crisis unit and meeting Chinese ambassador Yao Jing on Wednesday in an attempt to quell the fallout.

Chinese state media outlet China Daily reported that Mbappe's comment had sparked "a backlash among his Chinese fans, threatened his lucrative commercial relationships and offered a sharp reminder of the limits of celebrity influence." In response, several Chinese brands, including dairy companies Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, as well as Eastroc Beverage, suspended all cooperation with Mbappe.

The backlash underscores the risks for athletes and brands operating in China, where satire about Mao, who governed the country from 1949 to 1976, remains a social taboo. Mourinho, speaking ahead of Sunday's match, noted that "these are the dangers of today's world, where many times the best thing you can do is not open your mouth, because there is risk in so many things you say or comment on."

However, he added that Mbappe had acted responsibly, demonstrating "great class" in reacting appropriately to the situation. Mourinho expressed pride in the club's handling of the matter, stating, "As far as we’re concerned, that’s it. We have nothing more to say." The controversy originated from a long-running joke about Mbappe's perceived influence on Real Madrid.

A video from a French podcast, now taken down, showed Mbappe joking about a meme with his face photoshopped onto Mao Zedong's image. Fans have previously created memes featuring Mbappe's face superimposed on images of military and political leaders, implying he has the power to influence decisions at the teams he plays for. Mbappe has been dubbed "the dictator" in European media.

Currently ranked third in the La Liga standings, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid's performance this season remains uncertain amid the ongoing controversy.