Sporting director at last!? Real Madrid star Mbappe buys Ligue 2 side Caen

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 31 Jul 2024 12:44 BST
• 3 min read

Kylian Mbappe was once jokingly called PSG’s sporting director, but now the Real Madrid star can lay claim to having even more power than that after buying French Ligue 2 side Caen.

Mbappe has bought an 80% controlling stake in the Normandy club, with the documents for the deal signed on Tuesday and confirmation made of the purchase made hours later. He has invested €15 million of his own money in the deal.

And it was even suggested the sporting empire of Real Madrid’s latest Galactico would not stop there either, with the World Cup winner eyeing up a potential move into the world of professional basketball, although that rumour was swiftly quashed.

READ MORE: Real Madrid forced to take out €130m loan to pay 'free agent' Mbappe

Caen, which is famous for being N’Golo Kante’s club before he moved to the Premier League with Leicester City, confirmed the news via a statement that they are being bought over by Coalition Capital, Mbappe’s capital investment fund.

“This transaction marks a significant step in the club's strategic development and reinforces its natural ambition to maintain its place among the most historic clubs in French football,” Caen states.

“For nearly four years, Oaktree and Pierre-Antoine Capton, in collaboration with the club's entire management team, have led a club recovery project to ensure financial management, promote the promotion of young players from the academy and consolidate the club's regional base as well as its links with local stakeholders.

“This acquisition will allow Stade Malherbe Caen to benefit from additional strategic resources to strengthen its sports policy, modernise its infrastructure and develop innovative projects.”

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Mbappe’s Paris Basketball links denied

FranceInfo briefly sparked speculation that Mbappe could move into the world of basketball, with claims that talks over a minority share in Paris Basketball had taken place.

These were, however, swiftly retracted.

“It was immediately denied to me by other sources,” the journalist in question said. “Even if we’re prudent, you’re never safe from getting things wrong.”

Mbappe, though, is known to be a huge fan of basketball and has struck up a bond with Victor Wembanyama, star of the San Antonio Spurs and the France national team.