Real Madrid, China: Kylian Mbappé could pay a heavy price!

After the contract terminations, The Paper reports that compensation claims could be made against the Frenchman

Europe Today at 09:24

Add Foot Africa on Google

Real Madrid, China: Kylian Mbappé could pay a heavy price!

Kylian Mbappé could face further financial consequences in China. According to The Paper, his former commercial partners could seek refunds and compensation.

The loss of sponsorships may be only the first financial consequence for Kylian Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker could also face potential compensation claims from his former Chinese partners, according to an analysis published by The Paper following the controversy sparked by his comments about Mao Zedong.

Terminated contracts and threatened income

Several companies, including Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground, have announced the end of their partnerships with the captain of the France team. These advertising partnership terminations followed the release of an excerpt from The Bridge podcast in which the player reacted to a montage depicting him as Mao.

The Paper cites estimates attributed to Sportico: Chinese brands would account for at least one-third of the Frenchman's $30 million in sponsorship income this season, or around $10 million. This figure concerns estimated commercial income, not compensation that has already been claimed.

Possible refunds depending on the signed clauses

Lawyers interviewed by the Chinese outlet referred to clauses protecting the brands' image and governing the conduct of their ambassadors. If the contracts contain such provisions and a breach is established, the companies could seek the repayment of sums paid, contractual penalties or compensation for advertising materials that have become unusable.

Lawyer Fu Jian nevertheless pointed out that the outcome would depend on the wording of the agreements and the evidence of the losses incurred. He also noted the practical difficulties associated with international proceedings. No compensation amount set by a court has been announced in this article.

Public apologies, but a commercial case that remains open

Mbappé apologised on Tuesday, 27 October, acknowledging that his remarks had been clumsy. The following day, the Chinese authorities said they took his apology seriously, without announcing the reinstatement of the partnerships concerned.

Real Madrid and La Liga also expressed their regret. For the player, the financial consequences will now depend on each company's decisions and the contractual commitments binding the parties.

This article follows our newsroom’s editorial standards. To learn more about how we create and fact-check our content, see our Editorial Policy .