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Real Madrid have released an official statement issuing an apology to the people of China. The club's response comes after comments made by forward Kylian Mbappe caused significant tension across La Liga, the Madrid outfit, and the French star's personal commercial partnerships.
The official statement from Los Blancos read:
"Real Madrid wish to extend their apologies to the Chinese people for any upset caused by recent remarks made by our player Kylian Mbappe. Our club holds deep respect for China, its history, culture, and citizens, as well as the millions of Chinese fans who show affection and admiration for Real Madrid. The club joins Kylian Mbappe in his public apology, in which the player expressed regret for his comments and reaffirmed his respect for the Chinese people. Real Madrid reaffirm their commitment to the values of respect, coexistence, and intercultural understanding, and express their desire to continue strengthening ties of friendship with China and its citizens."
Despite the apology, Real Madrid's hierarchy are standing by Mbappe. The club noted that his comment was not made with malicious intent, having taken place in a relaxed, informal setting in response to viral internet memes and collages featuring himself and Mao Zedong. The statement emphasised that the World Cup winner has already shown remorse for his actions and reaffirmed his respect for the Asian nation.
The situation has nevertheless triggered notable fallout. In response to Mbappe's remarks, TV broadcasts of Real Madrid matches were halted in China, and the forward lost a significant number of his personal sponsorship deals in the country. The club themselves also hold commercial partnerships with three Chinese companies.
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