Kylian Mbappé has broken his silence. In an interview with the programme Clique on Canal+ France, the French superstar spoke about his adaptation to Real Madrid and the French national team, denied rumours of depression, and dismissed allegations of rape in Sweden.
This marks the first time the famous French player has addressed criticism of his on-field performance and speculation about his personal life since arriving at the Santiago Bernabéu this summer.
Mbappé explained that he decided to give the interview to let people hear his side of the story and understand what has transpired since his arrival. He assured fans that he is “very happy” at his new club, experiencing football outside of France for the first time after stints with Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He also responded to criticism that he has not yet displayed the kind of football that made him famous with previous teams.
“People see us as robots. But when it comes down to it, we’re humans like everyone else. People criticise us and praise us,” he said, acknowledging that he is not currently at his best.
“It’s not the best start to the season, but we’re preparing for the trophies. We’ve already won the European Super Cup. We haven’t met expectations yet, but at Real Madrid, you wait for the second half of the season. That’s when you can judge us,” the 25-year-old Frenchman said. He jokingly added that despite owning a garage filled with luxury cars, he doesn’t drive them because he hasn’t yet obtained a driving licence.
Challenges in transition
Mbappé admitted that the hardest part of leaving PSG for Real Madrid was the impact on his brother, Ethan, who is also a footballer.
“That affected me the most. For him, PSG was his Real Madrid. I would have given up my dream of Madrid for him. What’s the point of signing for the best club in the world if it ruins your brother’s career?” he reflected.
Although he left PSG, Mbappé fondly remembers the team and its fans. He even wishes the club success in winning the Champions League someday.
“For now, I don’t hope they win it because I want to win it with Madrid, and there’s only one cup,” Mbappé joked. “In the future, I hope they do win it because the fans, the people who suffer daily, deserve some happiness – but not now, because I have to win it first,” the 2018 World Cup champion added with a smile.
No regrets about joining Real Madrid
Determined to one day lift the iconic trophy with “the big ears,” Mbappé left Paris last summer to pursue that ambition. Despite his rocky start, he has no regrets about his decision.
“No, no, no, no… You’re in the pantheon of football. Go and succeed with the best,” Mbappé said during the Clique interview. “That has always been my motto: to be the best among the best. I wrote my story in Paris. Whether it’s perfect or not, I don’t know – nothing is perfect. I think I’ve done many things well, others not so well. I’ve made people dream, I’ve broken records, I’ve won titles, I’ve created emotions. Now, it’s the next step: I’m at the best club in the world,” he concluded.
Mbappé made it clear that “my love for the French national team hasn’t changed,” and he continues to follow “every PSG match.”
“I played there; I spent seven years there; I know every spot on the pitch. You show me your position, I know where you are, I know where you’re moving. When they lose, I know exactly what mental state they’re in, the players, because I know how tough it is. Everyone will pick apart the smallest things to criticise them,” he said.
Addressing rape allegations
When asked about alleged rape accusations in Sweden, Mbappé denied receiving any call from the country’s police.
His name was linked to the case after local media reports suggested investigations were underway concerning an incident at the same hotel in Stockholm where the star was staying.
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Source: ANA-MPA
