SPORT reported that the forward shared two stories showing him working on a treadmill and riding a bicycle, accompanied by the song "Les gentils, les méchants" by Michel Fugain and the lyric “Who is very bad? The bad one”. The cryptic message has prompted different interpretations in France and Spain.
Mbappé has been recovering from a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee after leaving the France squad during the international break. He spent less than 30 minutes at Real Madrid’s training ground for his diagnosis before travelling to Paris and Switzerland with the club’s permission.
His decision to continue his recovery away from Madrid has nevertheless attracted scrutiny, particularly after reports that he was seen at a nightclub in Paris. The situation has also been considered in the context of Real Madrid’s recent struggles, including the derby defeat by Atletico Madrid.
The images have brought back comments made by José Mourinho several weeks ago about the risks players take away from football.
“You can't go skiing in the mountains, you can't ride a bicycle. If he does it, even hiding from the club... I don't care so much about the contracts, but about the image you give,” Mourinho said.
The Portuguese coach has argued that a footballer’s responsibilities extend beyond the 90 minutes of a match, and his comments have been brought back into the discussion around Mbappé’s recovery.
Mourinho was similarly uncompromising when discussing Raúl Asencio after the Real Madrid defender was reportedly judged for driving under the influence of alcohol.
“The Real Madrid player is a player 24 hours,” Mourinho said.
He also explained why he considers cycling and other recreational activities to carry risks for professional footballers.
“You fall off the bike and you can miss three games, or even worse, you can break a leg. You might only get a knock, but that can get worse and take you away from your best level.”
Mbappé has not hidden his work since leaving the France camp, but the latest images, which bike riding, have added another layer to the debate over how the Real Madrid forward is managing his recovery.
For now, the club has allowed him to continue his rehabilitation away from Madrid. His latest posts show that he is maintaining his physical work, but they have also ensured that questions over his recovery have not gone away.