In a tug-of-war with Paris Saint-Germain and not particularly popular with fans since his departure in the summer of 2024, Kylian Mbappé, 26-year-old forward for Real Madrid, spoke about PSG’s Champions League victory last May. Unexpectedly, he almost expressed a heartfelt admiration for the Parisian club, where he spent seven seasons.
Mbappé: “It was the logical next step.”
“I was happy because I have quite a few friends on the team. It’s a club that meant a lot to me. I played there for seven years—it’s the club where I’ve spent the most time in my career so far. Of course, it’s special; I know how important it was for Parisians, for the fans, to win this trophy. They did it. As I said, it was the logical next step.”
Mbappé: “It’s great for them. I wish them the best.”
“We were close in previous years. They managed to do what we didn’t manage to achieve—the final step. We did the earlier steps, but this one is the most important, the one that elevates the club to a higher level. The club is entering another sphere now. It’s great for them. I wish them the best.”
A surprising statement, but consistent with Mbappé’s media persona. He always seeks to manage his image and has no reason to express any hostility toward his former club today. It was more strategic for him to be critical of PSG while still wearing its colors to accelerate his move to Real Madrid.
Now a Madrid player, he could watch from his living room as his hometown club made French football history. One wonders how deeply he appreciated this victory. Mbappé frames it in terms of “close” past campaigns and a “logical next step,” while acknowledging that he will not be part of this historic chapter with PSG. He will now have to win the competition with another club to fill that gap in his personal record.
