'Mbappe isn't loved' - Sponsors worried about Real Madrid star

Tom Weber

• Updated: 14 Oct 2024 18:41 BST
• 3 min read

Sponsors of the French national team are concerned that the side are losing their marketable megastars, according to French media.

Les Bleus continue to be the subject of heated discussion in France. The uninspiring performances at Euro 2024, the retirements of popular players such as Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane and Olivier Giroud and the controversy involving Kylian Mbappe have made the atmosphere tense.

While many players in the France squad believe that the Mbappe 'scandal' has been exaggerated, there are some voices that believe the recent episode that saw him fly out to a Swedish nightclub while the national team was playing is symbolic of a larger issue.

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According to L'Equipe, sponsors and 'brand partners' are of the opinion that Mbappe is not marketable enough to be the face of the France team.

It is claimed that people are, at best, indifferent towards the 25-year-old and off-field controversies obviously don't help his case.

France lacking superstars

One anonymous brand partner told the French outlet that the international retirement of Griezmann was a marketing disaster because, unlike Mbappe, he was such a popular figure.

"Griezmann’s retirement is harmful because people were unanimous about him. We feel a lovelessness towards Mbappe. He doesn’t bring people together. We note it in the engagement around our campaigns.”

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It is noted that the likes of Bradley Barcola, Aurelien Tchouameni and Ousmane Dembele could play a larger role in marketing campaigns in the future, while Mike Maignan, Michael Olise and Jules Kounde are fan favourites.

However, it is thought that there is a distinct lack of 'media-friendly' superstar players in the current side. Mbappe is the most popular French player in terms of shirt sales, but those behind the promotional campaigns for Les Bleus are clearly having doubts about him.