Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has sparked controversy after posting a video of himself cycling despite manager Jose Mourinho’s recent warning against the activity.
Mourinho had advised his players to avoid cycling because of the potential risk of injury, stressing that professional footballers must be careful with activities outside training.
“You are a football player 24 hours a day,” Mourinho told the Bet It Drives show.
“Everything reflects the job. What you eat, what you drink, how you sleep, even things in your private life. You cannot ski. You cannot ride a bike.
“You fall off your bike, and you don’t play three matches maybe, or maybe worse, maybe you break a leg … There are a lot of things you have to give up to be a football player.”
However, Mbappe, who is currently recovering from a left-knee injury, shared footage of himself riding a bicycle while wearing a helmet.
The France captain suffered a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee during the country’s 1-0 win over Türkiye on September 25. Real Madrid subsequently confirmed the injury after medical examinations.
Mbappe has since returned to Madrid and resumed individual recovery work as he targets a possible return for Real Madrid’s LaLiga clash with Villarreal on October 10.
The incident has attracted criticism from sections of the Spanish media, although reports indicate that the player’s recovery programme remains coordinated with the club’s medical and coaching staff.
