'Best thing is keep your mouth shut' - Mourinho on Mbappe-Mao row

Mourinho backed Mbappe's swift apology for comparing himself to Mao Zedong, saying the forward showed "true class" and acted "very responsibly" after the ill-judged remark sparked backlash in China.

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho defended Kylian Mbappe following the controversy over the France forward's comments about China's late leader Mao Zedong. During an episode of French talk show The Bridge, Mbappe said a meme comparing him to Mao was the one that made him laugh the most, calling Mao a "Chinese dictator". The remark sparked significant backlash on social media in China and globally, leading several Chinese brands to drop Mbappe.

Mbappe issued an apology on Tuesday, calling his comments "ill-judged" and acknowledging that they "hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world". Mourinho praised the 27-year-old's response, saying he acted "very responsibly" and showed "true class" by apologising quickly. The Portuguese manager noted that causing offence is "one of the dangers of today's world" but backed both his player and the club for their immediate reaction.