The Frenchman defines Mao as “a dictator” and the Chinese break off commercial relations with him and with La Liga. Everyone rushes to apologize, but the matter risks costing a mountain of money.
Kylian Mbappé’s gaffe on Mao Zedong, defined as a “dictator” without thinking about the possible consequences, has become a state affair that is burning millions of euros every hour that passes and which puts not only the French champion and Real Madrid in difficulty, but also La Liga and the entire Spanish football system. Brief summary of the facts: in the podcast “The Bridge”, when asked which meme among the thousand dedicated to him amuses him the most, Mbappé cited the one that depicts him in the guise of Mao Zedong which he refers to as “a Chinese dictator”.
Laughter in the studio, a little less in Beijing and the surrounding area where Mbappé’s phrase bounced around at lightning speed, creating a wave of indignation and commercial retaliation against the footballer and everything he represents. Three rich sponsors who made use of his image terminated their respective collaboration contracts, very rich ones, which brought a mountain of money into his bank accounts.
But, above all, the Chinese television which holds the rights to La Liga has announced the blackout of the Spanish championship starting from this weekend. Black out, temporary or definitive, we will see, which creates enormous problems for a league that has focused heavily on the East to try to expand its business and which has looked at China with enormous interest in recent years. A short circuit that is difficult to manage.
The immediate apologies made by Mbappé and La Liga number one, Javier Tebas, were not enough. The latter signed a statement dissociating himself from the Frenchman’s words on behalf of the entire movement and attempting to re-establish diplomatic and commercial relations with China. Returned to the sender, at least for the moment.
Real Madrid also took to the field with a message of apology: “for the inconvenience caused by the recent statements of our player Kylian Mbappé. Our club has 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 joins the public apology expressed by Kylian Mbappé, in which the player expressed his regret for his words and reiterated his respect for the Chinese people.”
Will the gesture of the most media and powerful club in the world be enough? Real Madrid put down on paper its “commitment to the values of respect, coexistence and understanding between cultures” expressing “the desire to continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship and affection that unite it with China and its citizens”. For now the breakup is without solution, we’ll see later.
