Mourinho defends Mbappé’s injury recovery as Real Madrid prepare to face Villarreal

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho defended Kylian Mbappé at a news conference on Friday, 9 October, after photographs of the injured forward in Paris and Switzerland drew criticism. Mourinho said Mbappé had met his obligations to the club, and the 27-year-old could return for Saturday’s home match against Villarreal. His selection has not been confirmed.

Mourinho called the criticism ‘ridiculous’. The dispute concerns how Mbappé spent part of his recovery from a knee injury sustained while playing for France on 25 September. His possible return matters to Real Madrid as they try to close a six-point gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona after seven games.

Why Mbappé’s recovery drew criticism

Mbappé injured his left knee in a Nations League match against Türkiye, according to an AFP report published by Al Jazeera. The BBC reported that he subsequently withdrew from international duty. Photographs then showed him at a Paris Fashion Week event and on a bicycle in Switzerland, prompting questions about his activities while he was away from Madrid.

The bicycle photograph attracted particular attention because Mourinho had previously said players should avoid cycling and skiing to reduce injury risk. Some supporters also questioned why Mbappé was recovering in France and Switzerland rather than remaining in Madrid. Those objections were about his conduct during recovery; the available reports do not provide an independent medical assessment of the effect of either activity on his knee.

What Mourinho said Mbappé did for Real Madrid

According to AFP, Mourinho said Mbappé came to Real Madrid for scans before seeing a specialist in France because of his history of knee problems. The coach said players who were required to attend daily recovery sessions were present. His account directly addressed the suggestion that time outside Madrid meant Mbappé had disregarded the club’s instructions.

The BBC quoted Mourinho as saying that every player did what was required during the international break. He told reporters that a Real Madrid player who failed to behave as the club expected would be sent home rather than kept on the bench. Asked specifically about Mbappé, Mourinho said: ‘If Mbappe plays tomorrow, it’s because he hasn’t failed Real Madrid and he hasn’t failed to fulfil his obligations to the club.’

Mourinho’s defence was categorical, but it was a statement from the coach about the club’s own requirements. Neither account supplies a medical prognosis or a separate assessment of Mbappé’s recovery arrangements. The photographs and the coach’s account establish what the public argument concerned; they do not establish whether the travel or cycling changed his recovery timetable.

Mbappé’s possible return against Villarreal

Mbappé returned to training on Wednesday, 7 October, AFP reported. That made a return against Villarreal on Saturday, 10 October, possible. Mourinho said he was certain the forward had fulfilled his obligations to Real Madrid, but neither AFP nor the BBC reported a final team selection. Training again and being named to play are separate steps.

Real Madrid go into the Villarreal match after a defeat by Atlético Madrid, according to AFP. Both AFP and the BBC put them six points behind Barcelona; the BBC specified that the gap followed seven league games. That position gives Mbappé’s availability immediate significance for the team, although the reports do not establish how many minutes he could play if selected.

The BBC reported that Mbappé scored 42 goals in 44 club appearances last season, when Real Madrid won no trophies. That record helps explain why the club’s leading forward returning to training is a significant team development. It does not settle whether he is fit to start against Villarreal, a decision still outstanding in the reporting available on Friday.