Worse than Ratcliffe and Boehly? Club owner Mbappe blasted by fans

Tom Weber

Updated: 4 Jan 2025 10:09 GMT
3 min read

Kylian Mbappe, SM Caen fans — © IMAGO/Damien Deslandes

The supporters of SM Caen, the Ligue 2 club owned by Kylian Mbappe, are beginning to turn on their investor as they battle against relegation.

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In the summer, a feel-good story emerged from France as news broke that Kylian Mbappe had decided to assume ownership of storied French club Caen, who previously were a regular fixture in Ligue 1.

However, in recent years, Caen have fallen on tough times and after finishing as high as 7th in the top flight in 2016, the club dropped down to the second tier in 2019.

So far, however, the ownership by Mbappe's investment firm, Coalition Capital, has evoked anything but positive feelings at Caen. The club languish in a worrying 16th in Ligue 2, level on points with Ajaccio in 17th, and are set for a massive relegation battle for the rest of the season.

Caen fans protest against Mbappe

On Friday, Caen hosted fellow strugglers Clermont Foot in a potential relegation six-pointer and succumbed to a late defeat, compounding their misery.

During the match, supporters made their feelings about Mbappe clear with several banners that heavily criticised the running of the club after the sacking of popular coach Nicolas Seube in favour of Bruno Baltazar.

“Before shining on the world stage, respect the local figures,” one banner read, with another bluntly stating: “Mbappe, SMC is not your toy.” This appears to be latest chapter in Mbappe's deteriorating relationship with supporters back in his home country.

The Les Bleus star has come under heavy fire in France this season for not participating in national team camps, which has even given rise to calls that he should be stripped of the captaincy.

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However, the reaction of Caen fans is also symbolic of a larger issue in French football as supporters at many clubs are frustrated with investors and owners.

Unlike, for example, the Bundesliga, French football is much more open to investors, domestic and foreign, and this has led to supporters feeling as though their beloved clubs have become the playthings of billionaires.

City Football Group-owned Troyes have fallen into footballing no-man's land and only managed to avoid relegation to the third tier last season by the skin of their teeth.

At Nice, there has been a lot of frustration over INEOS' perceived lack of ambition and investment, while Strasbourg fans have persistently protested against BlueCo's ownership of the club.