Real Madrid: "He gave him a real dressing-down," Mourinho's harsh reprimand of Mbappé, according to the Spanish press.

Kylian Mbappé, who has faced considerable criticism in Spain since his knee injury while playing for France, reportedly had a confrontation with José Mourinho on Tuesday morning. The Real Madrid coach is said to have reprimanded his star striker while promising to defend him publicly.

José Mourinho's next public statements will be closely scrutinized in Spain. And the Real Madrid coach is likely to be bombarded with questions about Kylian Mbappé's recent situation. Since his left knee injury in Turkey on September 25th during the Nations League (0-1), the French national team captain has faced considerable criticism in Spain. Images of his night out at a Parisian nightclub with his partner Ester Exposito and the video of his cycling trip in the Swiss Alps have caused outrage in Madrid.

Many see this as an act of defiance from Kylian Mbappé towards Real Madrid. A journalist from Radio Marca explained that the World Cup's all-time leading scorer had asked the club's management to support his candidacy for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, but that his request had been denied. Could this have created some tension behind the scenes? The 27-year-old striker himself dismissed this theory with an ironic message on social media.

"Outside, I'll defend you, but not here."

The fact remains that the unease is very real in the Spanish capital, and numerous theories and rumors are fueling conversations. The latest was put forward last night on El Chiringuito: José Mourinho reportedly discussed this unease directly with his number 9 on Tuesday morning in the privacy of Valdebebas, Real Madrid's training center. "José Mourinho had a one-on-one discussion with Kylian Mbappé at breakfast, and during this exchange, he gave him a dressing-down," explains a journalist from the Spanish media outlet. "He told him: 'You're quite...'—I'll leave out the adjective—'...to publish that?' (his video of him cycling). He added: 'Outside, I'll defend you when questioned, but here, no, I won't defend you.'"

It remains to be seen whether The Special One, known for his strong personality, his outbursts, and his explosive statements, will adopt a protective and understanding tone in the coming days. It will also be interesting to see when Kylian Mbappé returns to competition in the Real Madrid jersey.

Mbappé reportedly spent Tuesday in Paris

After resuming individual training on Monday, the Paris native was hoping to play against Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday (9pm) at the Bernabeu. But according to El Chiringuito, he could find himself on the bench at kickoff, alongside Vinicius Jr.

This possibility is all the more likely given that Kylian Mbappé did not train with his teammates on Tuesday. After being reprimanded by José Mourinho, the former PSG player reportedly took a private plane late in the morning to spend the day in Paris, with Real Madrid's permission. He is said to have returned to Madrid shortly after 9 p.m.