Real Madrid: Mourinho calls criticism of Mbappé “ridiculous” ahead of Villarreal

Madrid has spent ten days watching Kylian Mbappé come and go. Injured in his left knee on 25 September while scoring in Turkey for France, the striker had left the national camp to recover. Five days later, a night out in a Paris club with his partner, actress Ester Expósito, set the Spanish press grinding its teeth. Then came the cycling footage from the Swiss Alps and, on 4 October, an Instagram story set to Michel Fugain’s song “Les gentils, les méchants”. The capital’s patience is wearing thin.

The argument turned harsher this week. “Mbappé is losing the affection of Real Madrid’s supporters, and that is the worst thing that can happen to a footballer,” said Josep Pedrerol on El Chiringuito. The same show reported, on 6 October, a day trip to Paris with barely ninety minutes at Valdebebas and a dressing-down from the coach: a version neither the club nor the manager has confirmed.

Mourinho closes the debate

Asked on the eve of the Villarreal game, José Mourinho answered with one word: “Ridiculous.” Then he went further: “Mbappé will play. He will not be on the bench. I am certain he has failed no obligation to Real Madrid.” On a Bernabéu ready to whistle his player, he added: “You do not need to be Einstein to understand that is the goal.”

The timing suits the club. Fourth in La Liga, six points behind Barcelona after seven games, Real Madrid host Villarreal at the Bernabéu on Saturday, and Mbappé has returned to training this week. The dressing-room argument is closed: the Frenchman will be on the pitch. What remains is to win over a crowd preparing its answer.