Kylian Mbappe has found himself at the centre of renewed discussion at Real Madrid after reportedly spending time at a Paris nightclub with his girlfriend while recovering from injury. Spanish media reports claim that head coach Jose Mourinho subsequently held a private and heated conversation with the France forward over his conduct.
Mbappe suffered a left knee injury during France’s UEFA Nations League match against Turkey on 25 September. While he was expected to focus on his recovery and rehabilitation, photographs of him at a nightclub in Paris with his girlfriend, Ester Exposito, circulated on social media. A video showing the forward cycling in the Swiss Alps also emerged during the same period.
The images and video quickly prompted criticism in Madrid, particularly because Mbappe was still recovering from an injury. Questions were raised over whether his activities were compatible with the demands of rehabilitation and the expectations placed on a leading player at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
According to the Spanish television programme El Chiringuito, Mourinho spoke to Mbappe separately during breakfast at Valdebebas on Tuesday. The coach reportedly made his displeasure clear and told the player that, although he had publicly supported him, he did not approve of such behaviour within the team environment.
The reported conversation comes at a delicate stage in Mbappe’s recovery. He returned to individual training on Monday, raising expectations that he could make his comeback in Saturday’s La Liga fixture against Villarreal. However, he was not seen training with his team-mates on Tuesday, casting fresh doubt over his involvement in the match.
If Mbappe is included in the squad against Villarreal, he could potentially begin the match on the bench rather than being considered for an immediate return to the starting XI. After a knee injury, his fitness and ability to handle competitive match intensity will be key considerations before he is given a full role.
The latest reports also represent a contrast with Mourinho’s previous public defence of the Frenchman. Just a few weeks ago, the coach had rejected suggestions that Mbappe could be regarded as a problem for the team, pointing instead to his ability to score 40 goals in a season.
That backing had appeared to underline the coach’s confidence in the forward’s value. The reported private discussion, however, suggests that support for Mbappe’s footballing qualities does not necessarily extend to every aspect of his conduct while recovering from injury.
Mbappe remains one of Real Madrid’s most influential attacking players, making his fitness particularly significant as the club prepares for its upcoming fixtures. His return will depend not only on whether the injury has sufficiently healed but also on his progress in training and the coaching staff’s assessment of his readiness.
For now, the circumstances surrounding his nightclub appearance and absence from Tuesday’s group session have added another layer to the scrutiny surrounding the forward. The claims about the conversation with Mourinho have come from Spanish media reports and have not been independently detailed by the club.
Attention will now turn to the Villarreal match and whether Mbappe is fit enough to feature. His inclusion, even as a substitute, would offer an indication of how the club views his recovery, while another absence would suggest that the forward may need more time before returning to competitive action.
