Mbappe accused of letting club ‘DIE’

Robin Bairner

• 22 Feb 2025 11:00 CST
• 5 min read

Kylian Mbappe might have won over Real Madrid’s supporters, but the France international continues to face criticism in France for allowing Ligue 2 side Caen “to die”.

Mbappe bought the outfit last summer with the aim of returning the club to France’s top-flight, but the 26-year-old star is not proving as astute off the field as he has on it lately with Los Blancos.

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Caen are propping up the second tier on 16 points, nine from possible safety, having already sacked two head coaches this season.

On Saturday, they were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw at home against Pau in a result that does their fight against relegation little good.

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Prior to the clash, Mbappe had surprisingly appeared in Caen to rally the players as new coach Michel De Zakarian took charge. But the actions of the Real Madrid attacker have only attracted criticism from his homeland.

“The club is going to die, it’s too late,” Jerome Rothen, a former PSG and Caen player, explained to RMC.

“I believe he’s doing things seriously but don’t get me wrong, you don’t spend the first 23 games of the season explaining your vision of things.

“When he had time off, he could have gone there instead of going to Sweden.

“The club is going to drop to the National [third tier] and good luck getting it back on it’s feet from there!”

Mbappe: Caen really matter to me

Caen supporters have already held protests against Mbappe’s ownership of the club, claiming that he is using their side as little more than a plaything.

Mbappe responded on Thursday: “I can understand the frustration of the supporters, the incomprehension, because I had never been here before. It's normal because our objective and our mission is to bring as much clarity as possible.

“I want people to know that it matters to me to be here. The club has an important place for me. It was important to give them my support, especially in the current situation. I can debrief you on any game, because I watch every game I can watch.”

Mbappe returns to his day job with Real Madrid on Sunday, when they face Girona at the Bernabeu in LaLiga.