The fallout from Kylian Mbappé’s comments about a meme depicting Mao Zedong has extended into football video games in China, while the creator of the original montage has spoken about the reaction. On the pitch, Madrid continued preparing for Sunday’s visit to Racing Santander, with Arda Güler and Fede Valverde following individual programs. Carlo Ancelotti also announced his latest Brazil squad, calling up Vinícius Júnior and Endrick but leaving Éder Militão out.
Chinese football games remove Mbappé-related content
The commercial consequences of Mbappé’s
remarks now include measures affecting Chinese versions of FC Online and Konami’s eFootball-related titles. Reports citing announcements on the games’ local channels describe the removal of promotional material and restrictions on content featuring the Madrid forward.
FC Online said it had begun removing Mbappé-related content from external channels and would implement further changes through an update. The Chinese versions of the Konami titles also announced measures covering promotion of the player and the characters or cards associated with him. The reported action concerns the Chinese editions, rather than a worldwide removal from the franchises.
The measures follow the termination of Mbappé’s partnerships with Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground, alongside China Media Group’s suspension of LaLiga broadcasts and other programming involving the player.
Chinese state-linked media criticize Madrid’s response
Real Madrid’s apology has not ended scrutiny of the club’s handling of the controversy. Chinese state-linked outlets and official platforms have questioned the timing of its response and called for measures beyond a public statement. Mbappé apologized on October 27, with Madrid issuing its own apology on October 28.
The criticism has focused on what those outlets describe as a delayed response and unequal treatment of different controversies. An editorial published by the Global Times before Madrid’s apology contrasted the club’s handling of Mbappé’s comments with its public response to racist abuse directed at Vinícius. The publication argued that Madrid should assume responsibility and take further action.
Reporting on the reaction also identifies criticism from the official platform of Zhejiang’s propaganda department, which accused Madrid of responding superficially and called for greater oversight and intercultural education for players. Those accusations represent the position of the outlets and platforms making them.
China Media Group acknowledged receiving Madrid’s apology, but that acknowledgment did not include a timetable for restoring LaLiga broadcasts. The Chinese Foreign Ministry similarly said it attached importance to Mbappé’s apology without specifying whether the measures affecting him would be reversed.
Meme creator: “I only did this to laugh with my friends”
Younes Khelifi, known on X as @frenchaicovers, has discussed creating the Mbappé–Mao montage that became the subject of the forward’s interview comments. Speaking to So Foot, Khelifi explained that the video dates back to the summer of 2023, when he was experimenting with manipulated videos and football memes.
“I don’t feel bad, but it’s strange to think that, in a way, I’m the origin of all this. At first, I only did this to laugh with my friends, and now I see how the whole thing is circulating and growing before my very eyes,” he said.
Khelifi recalled waking up to messages about the controversy and initially wondering whether Mbappé’s representatives might seek compensation. His remarks described his own concern, rather than a legal threat he had received.
“My first thought was, literally, what I put in the tweet: ‘If you take me to court, Mbappé, I’ll be financially ruined!’” he said, laughing.
He also expressed sympathy for the player, saying he had not expected the montage’s impact to extend beyond France.
“Honestly, I feel a little sorry for Mbappé. Nobody had bad intentions and, in the end, it has had consequences.”
Güler and Valverde continue individual work before Racing
Arda Güler and Fede Valverde completed a second successive day of work away from the main group as Madrid prepared for Sunday, November 1’s visit to Racing Santander at 4:15 p.m. Madrid time. The club’s training report described their activity as specific individual work, without announcing a new injury diagnosis or confirming their availability.
The reporting around both players remains encouraging. Güler is managing a minor muscular overload following his extended involvement in the Clásico, while Valverde was substituted against Barcelona after experiencing discomfort. EFE reports that both are expected to be available for Racing, although their participation will depend on their progress before the match.
Thibaut Courtois is also working his way back after the illness that kept him out of the Clásico. AS reports that he trained lightly with his teammates and is expected to be available on Sunday. Raúl Asencio exercised alone on the pitch, while Rodrygo continued his rehabilitation.
Thursday’s session began with warm-up and activation exercises before moving into ball circulation, finishing and tactical work. The available players concluded with small-sided matches.
Mourinho: “Real Madrid plays to win championships”
Mourinho has already stressed that the Clásico victory must be followed by consistent results. Speaking after the win at Camp Nou, he warned against allowing the significance of that result to distract the squad from its next assignment.
“The team is united, calm, working hard, and preparing. As I said: we’re going for the next one. This is a great victory, but when we get back to work, I’m not going to let people get carried away. If we win today and lose at El Sardinero, today’s victory won’t have the same meaning, because Real Madrid doesn’t play to win at the Camp Nou. Real Madrid plays to win championships. We have to keep going.”
Racing begins a run of three away fixtures: Madrid travel to AEK on November 4 before facing Valencia on November 7. Mbappé approaches that sequence after scoring five times across the previous week, including his two goals against Barcelona.
Brazil call up Vinícius and Endrick, with Militão left out
Carlo Ancelotti has included Vinícius Júnior and Endrick in Brazil’s squad for their final two matches of 2026. Both friendlies will take place at Singapore’s National Stadium: against Japan on November 14 at 11:15 a.m. Madrid time, followed by Singapore on November 17 at 11 a.m.
Militão has not been selected as he continues building match fitness after his lengthy injury absence. Cadena SER reports that Ancelotti prefers to allow the defender to accumulate more minutes with Madrid before returning to international duty. Rodrygo is also absent as his rehabilitation continues.
Endrick’s inclusion comes after a change in his role at Madrid. His contribution to the comeback against Roma helped him earn further opportunities, including a start against Sevilla. Vinícius, meanwhile, remains subject to the four-match domestic suspension that has created additional openings in Mourinho’s attack.
Brazil’s squad:
Goalkeepers: Bento, Lucas Perri and Pedro Morisco.
Defenders: Arthur Dias, Carlos Augusto, Douglas Santos, Gabriel Magalhães, Jair Cunha, Jonathan Jesus, Vanderson, Vitor Reis and Wesley.
Midfielders: André Luiz, Andrey Santos, Bruno Guimarães, Danilo Santos, Gabriel Bontempo, João Gomes and Marlon Gomes.
Forwards: Alisson Santana, Allan, Endrick, Estêvão, Raphinha, Rayan and Vinícius Júnior.
Papin questions Mbappé’s Ballon d’Or campaign
Jean-Pierre Papin believes Mbappé’s public campaign for the Ballon d’Or worked against him, although the former France striker remains convinced he can eventually win the award. Speaking on RMC’s Rothen s’enflamme, Papin assessed the forward’s communication after he finished second to Harry Kane.
“Mbappé’s communication strategy has hurt him a lot. It reflects, in a way, what he’s like. It’s a shame, considering his qualities and the club he plays for,” Papin said.
The 1991 winner also drew a comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo, both in terms of personality and goalscoring effectiveness.
“Mbappé reminds me a bit of Cristiano Ronaldo: everyone else had to be at his service.”
“In terms of effectiveness, he’s not far from what Cristiano Ronaldo achieved. But his communication strategy has backfired. I’m convinced he’ll win the Ballon d’Or; he has the necessary qualities to do so. It wasn’t a ‘now or never’ situation. It was a good opportunity, yes, but he still has a long way to go.”
Papin’s comments offer his interpretation of the result; they do not establish how much Mbappé’s interviews influenced individual voters.
Lucas Vázquez dedicates cup goal to train-crash victims
Lucas Vázquez scored a spectacular late volley as Bayer Leverkusen came from 2–0 down to beat Nürnberg 5–2 in the DFB-Pokal. The former Madrid player struck in the 89th minute, completing the scoring as Leverkusen advanced to the round of 16.
His celebration carried a message beyond the result. Lucas knelt on the pitch and pointed towards the sky before dedicating the victory and his goal to the victims of the train accident in Urda, Toledo, and their families.
“For you! This victory and this goal are for the victims and their families! All my love on a day that hurts us Spaniards so much!” he wrote on Instagram.
The goal was his second in this season’s German Cup, following his contribution against Wehen Wiesbaden in the opening round. His cup and European appearances have provided opportunities to contribute while his Bundesliga minutes have been more limited.
Reflecting on the comeback, Lucas credited the team’s improvement after the interval.
“It wasn’t an easy match. At the beginning, we had problems building attacks, we struggled in different areas… and I think after halftime the team changed completely. In the second half, we did a really good job. We were the better team and created enough chances to win,” he said.
Carvajal and Yuri put their disagreement behind them
Dani Carvajal has explained his conversation with Yuri Berchiche after Athletic Club’s 4–0 victory over Getafe at San Mamés. The full-backs embraced after the match, with Carvajal subsequently telling Cadena SER’s El Larguero that they had discussed the challenge that injured Yuri in June 2023.
Carvajal, then playing for Madrid, fractured Yuri’s right fibula with a tackle on the final day of that league season. Speaking about their reunion, he said:
“I apologized to him at the time and I mentioned it again at the stadium. He told me he’d had a really tough time.”
“I told him I was sorry, that I admired him a lot, and that I admired his entire career.”
The Getafe defender said the conversation ended with mutual respect.
“In the end, it was reciprocal; we have a lot of respect for each other, and that’s where it ended.”
Carvajal also addressed the hostile reception he received from sections of the crowd, saying he had not heard the insults because he was concentrating on the match, while describing gestures of that kind as unwelcome in football.
Video: Diomande’s latest training highlight
Yan Diomande features in another training clip released through Real Madrid TV, showcasing the winger’s technique against his teammates as preparations continue for the trip to Santander.
