Barcelona's Truth-Seeking Journalist Delivers Another Comedy Gold Strike
During his ongoing campaign against misinformation, Barcelona defender Jules Kounde dismissed injury speculation by invoking the tale of Pinocchio.
Kounde was substituted during Barcelona's final game of 2025. With approximately 10 minutes left in Sunday's 2–0 victory against Villarreal, the attacking fullback collapsed while holding his leg. Kounde needed medical attention before being replaced.
Right after the game, Barça manager Hansi Flick downplayed worries about Kounde. "I believe it's fine," he informed reporters. "Over the past three days, he experienced issues. He was unwell. He promised to give everything. He experienced some cramping. We'll examine him upon returning to Barcelona, but it doesn't appear serious. That's our expectation."
Nevertheless, with January's Spanish Super Cup approaching, where Barcelona will meet Athletic Club in the semifinals before a possible final against either Atlético or Real Madrid, concerns arose that Kounde might miss extended time with a hamstring tear. AS initially published a report making this claim, which Javi Miguel shared on X.
Kounde responded to that post with a gif depicting the fairy tale character Pinocchio's nose extending quickly, a result of dishonesty. Miguel quickly deleted his article.
AS quickly published a revised report stating that Kounde's rehabilitation would take just two weeks, providing sufficient time for him to participate in Saudi Arabia if not sooner. The Madrid-based newspaper wasn't the first to face Kounde's campaign for accurate reporting.
Kounde's Battle Against Spanish Press
Kounde frequently challenges Spanish news organizations. When Mundo Deportivo claimed in May that Kounde was among several Barcelona players who celebrated May's 4–3 Clásico win over Real Madrid at a Travis Scott show, Kounde responded sharply: "Another falsehood...
"I was nowhere near that venue. This isn't journalism. Improve your standards."
Cataluyna Radio and SPORT publication both faced criticism last season for "fabricating" statements from Kounde during the Champions League semifinal. The France defender, who was sidelined with injury then, was allegedly quoted questioning Flick's choice to substitute Robert Lewandowski during the final moments of the second leg against Inter, which Barça ultimately lost.
"Creating false statements and spinning stories is fine, but it's not journalism," he posted on X. "Publishing information without verifying its accuracy also isn't journalism. Nevertheless, you're welcome to share the tweet if you wish."
This season, Kounde's pursuit of accuracy has persisted, though his responses have grown more inventive. Several weeks prior to the Pinocchio reference, the 27-year-old countered reports that he had asked to play center back with a truth-lie detector gif. Spain's news organizations have received a clear message.