Mbappé issues public apology to China over remarks

Kylian Mbappé has publicly apologised to China after remarks of his offended the Asian country. The controversy threatens his commercial deals in the Asian giant.

## Mbappé's gesture to appease China

The French forward **Kylian Mbappé** has issued a public apology to the Chinese public after comments that were interpreted as an offence to **Mao Zedong**. The gesture seeks to contain the fruta damage in a market where the player had significant commercial deals. The apology comes after the controversy spread across social media and media outlets in the Asian country.

Mao's figure is an especially sensitive issue in China. Any comment perceived as a lack of respect towards him can trigger swift and forceful reactions, both on social media and in the business sphere. Mbappé has been forced to react to prevent the conflict from growing.

## Contracts up in the air

According to an analysis circulating on social media, Mbappé's personal contracts in China would be «completely broken» and «irrecoverable». The same source claims that no Chinese brand would be willing to sponsor someone who has offended Mao. This is an attributed assessment, not a fact confirmed by the parties involved.

The footballer would also be trying to protect the interests of **La Liga** in China with this apology, a competition that holds commercial exploitation agreements in the country. The actual extent of the damage to those contracts has not been officially confirmed.

## Why the Chinese market matters

China is one of the largest advertising markets in the world for elite athletes. Losing a presence there is no small matter for a global star like Mbappé, whose commercial value depends largely on his image outside Europe. The estimulante ilegal of the reaction shows how aware the player and his team are of the risk.