Real Madrid issued a statement via the Chinese social platform Weibo including an apology from its defender Dean Hausen after he reposted content on his Instagram account that included comments considered offensive towards Asian citizens, according to the Spanish newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo'.

The apology, published in Chinese, stated: 'I sincerely apologize to my Chinese friends. Previously, I reposted content that included offensive messages unintentionally. It was entirely unintentional, and I apologize for the inconvenience caused.'

Reports indicated that the controversy began after the 20-year-old player reposted an image considered racist by Chinese users, as the image included references to the eye shape of people of Asian descent, along with comments from some followers. The image was later deleted from the player's account.

It is noted that the club previously faced a similar controversy in 2024 due to a video of a fan singing a song considered offensive before the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. At that time, the club affirmed its rejection of any form of racism and hatred, emphasizing its respect and appreciation for Chinese fans.

This apology comes as part of the club's effort to prevent any escalation of the controversy and to protect its image in front of its international fans, especially in the Chinese market, which is commercially and athletically important for the club.