In a statement published on Wednesday, the Spanish giants expressed regret over the reaction to Mbappé’s remarks and stressed their respect for China, its history and its culture.
“Real Madrid C. F. wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any offence that may have been caused by the recent words of our player Kylian Mbappé,” the club said.
“Our club maintains a profound respect for China, its history, its culture and its citizens, as well as for the millions of Chinese fans who feel affection and admiration for Real Madrid.”
The club also referred directly to the apology already issued by the player, making clear that it stood behind his expression of regret.
“The club joins the public apology expressed by Kylian Mbappé, in which the player himself has expressed his regret for his words and reiterated his respect for the Chinese people,” the statement continued.
“Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to the values of respect, coexistence and understanding between cultures, and expresses its desire to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship and affection that unite it with China and its citizens.”
The controversy began after Mbappé made comments during an online conversation about memes featuring his image superimposed on that of Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The remarks were widely interpreted as disrespectful, prompting a backlash in China.
The forward subsequently apologised, acknowledging that his comments had been poorly judged and had caused offence. Real Madrid’s statement represents a further attempt to address the fallout, particularly given the club’s substantial following in China.
The consequences have extended beyond criticism on social media. China Media Group suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches and other games featuring Mbappé, while the forward has reportedly lost commercial partnerships with several Chinese companies.
Real Madrid also have business relationships with Chinese firms, giving the dispute implications for the club as well as its star player. The apology underlines the importance of protecting those relationships and maintaining the support of a large international fanbase.
Despite issuing the statement, the club has not publicly distanced itself from Mbappé. Instead, it has emphasised that the player has already expressed regret and reiterated his respect for China.
The next question is whether the apologies will be sufficient to repair the damage. Chinese authorities have acknowledged Mbappé’s apology, but the status of the suspended broadcasts and the affected commercial agreements remains uncertain.
For Real Madrid, the episode has become a reminder of how comments made in an informal setting can have consequences far beyond football. The club will hope its statement helps restore trust while allowing Mbappé to move forward from the controversy.