Mbappe appears to defy Mourinho with Real Madrid Instagram post
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe appears to have publicly challenged one of Jose Mourinho's instructions in what could develop into a flashpoint at the Bernabeu.
Mbappe dropped out of France action after injuring himself while scoring the only goal in a victory away to Turkey, but instead of returning to Valdebebas to train with Los Blancos has been travelling around Europe.
The striker attracted criticism from the Spanish press when he was spotted at a Paris nightclub with girlfriend Ester Exposito, yet his latest Instagram post appeared to carry a more direct message for Mourinho.
Did Mbappe deliberately defy Mourinho?
Mbappe posted a video of himself cycling in Switzerland, with a particularly intriguing choice of soundtrack.
It was the song ‘Les gentils, les mechants’ by Michel Fugain with Big Bazar, but what is especially interesting was the verse that he chose. Translated, it means: “Who is very bad? The bad one.”
Some Real Madrid supporters immediately pounced on this apparent message, linking it back to an interview that Mourinho had given with the Bet It Drive Show published in September.
The Portuguese said: “A player can't ski in the mountains, he can't ride a bicycle. It has to do with the importance you give to your work. If you fall off a bicycle, you might miss three games. Or worse, you could break a leg, or maybe just get a cut, but that prevents you from being at your best level.”
Mbappe’s post, from his actions to the soundtrack, would certainly invite the interpretation that he is openly challenging Mourinho’s authority and control over his life.
😅 El francés ha compartido el vídeo en sus redes sociales. https://t.co/vwWZ01cEwF
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) October 4, 2026
Mbappe presents Mourinho with his first major test
This is not the first time Mbappe's behaviour away from the pitch has attracted criticism.
Back in March, he went out in Paris on the same evening that Real Madrid lost to Getafe. He was recovering from a knee problem at the time, prompting criticism in Spain.
Similarly, in 2024, he went out in Stockholm during the October international break, when he missed France duty due to injury, once again provoking outrage at what some critics deemed to be a lack of professionalism.
It remains to be seen how Mourinho treats this latest case. He was brought in to install a sense of discipline to the dressing room after a 2025/26 season in which Los Blancos failed to control their star players behind the scenes, leading to the departures of Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa over the course of a single year.
The Portuguese has a strong man-management reputation, but Mbappe’s apparently deliberate public flouting of the manager’s rules appears to be the first time this has been tested since his return to the Bernabeu.
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