Kylian Mbappé, 26-year-old striker for Real Madrid and the French national team, answered questions from Movistar in an interview broadcast this Monday. As is often the case, he was asked to reflect on his time at Paris Saint-Germain from 2017 to 2024. The French international spoke frankly and also spoke about coach Luis Enrique.
Mbappé: “A new era for Paris. I spent seven incredible years.”
“It was a pleasure to play in Paris, in my city, with top-level players. It was incredible. I arrived at a time of change for the project, because it was coming off a historic defeat against Barcelona. And with many players like Neymar, Dani Alves… top-level people. A new era for Paris. I spent seven incredible years.”
The records?
They’re details. Important or not, they’re details. Personal glory: top scorer in history. But I think more about the emotions I felt, the emotions I gave to people. That’s what’s really important. Records are important because they allow them to remember you as a goalscorer. But the emotions, the titles won as a team, the historic moments like playing in a Champions League final, having the opportunity to play with players who have written the history of football and from whom you learn a lot.
Mbappé: “A very good person and an excellent coach”
The relationship with Luis Enrique?
I saw him two days ago because he went to the Lille-PSG match and I saw him in the parking lot. A very good person and an excellent coach. I had a very good relationship with him and I wish him the best in life. As a coach, I had a great time with him in Paris,” comments relayed by AS.
We’re starting to get used to it. Mbappé speaks highly of his years at PSG and emphasizes all the happiness he experienced in “his city.” This statement is a little less appealing given the ongoing legal battle and the seemingly clear determination to leave. Even if it was to join Real Madrid, which had been his dream for a while.
He may still be honest. The striker probably had the desire to win the Champions League in Paris, in addition to breaking records. These leave a mark, of course. Perhaps more so than “emotions.” The latter may have been lacking with a relatively cold player, not particularly combative, ready to fire off barbs in public, and who didn’t rule out the idea of joining the club where he really wanted to play.
In any case, he remains positive about the club and Luis Enrique. We appreciate that he’s avoiding a controversy that could quickly escalate. However, it was not all easy with the Spanish coach, who tried to push him to integrate more into the team.
