The former Spanish coach José Antonio Camacho has commented on the program “El Partidazo de COPE” on the controversy that arose after Kylian Mbappé's controversy in China. The Real Madrid forward was the subject of a meme that compared him to Mao Zedong, which caused the Frenchman to feel offended and have to apologize to the Chinese audience, where the figure of the former dictator is still very sensitive.
Camacho, who coached both the Spanish team and the Chinese club, explained that the leaders of Chinese teams usually impose their own rules and demands. “They always tell you that you have to adapt to their rules, their way and everything they do,” he said. According to the former player, the pressure to meet the club's standards is intense and, when the demands become too much, the club may decide to abruptly withdraw from the relationship.
The commentator also noted that football and advertising are pillars of Chinese teams' strategy, but that they have recently become more cautious with media exposure. “They have invested a lot in football and publicity, but now they no longer want so much publicity and are becoming more reserved,” he explained.
Regarding Mbappé's situation, Camacho suggested that Real Madrid and the forward would have high-level lawyers to manage the crisis. “I imagine that Real Madrid and Mbappé will have good lawyers, because they cut it off immediately and you will deal with FIFA, UEFA or whoever is relevant,” he said. The former coach concluded that the club will try to negotiate with the league to reduce possible sanctions or additional costs.
The controversy is still ongoing and it is expected that Real Madrid and the Chinese authorities will work on a solution that allows the forward to continue his career without major repercussions. The next phase will be to observe how the negotiations are handled and whether an agreement is reached that satisfies both the club and international sports authorities.