Ms. Fayza Lamari defended Kylian Mbappe against a series of reports that the French striker caused division within PSG and wanted to leave in January 2023.
On October 13, L’Equipe newspaper reported that Mbappe was gradually isolated in the dressing room and caused division within PSG. According to this source, Neymar, Marquinhos and other Spanish-speaking players are part of the group opposing Mbappe. On the contrary, only Achraf Hakimi and three French players Presnel Kimpembe, Nordi Mukiele and Hugo Ekitike sided with the 23-year-old striker.
Two days earlier, French radio channel RMC and Le Parisien newspaper said that Mbappe wanted to leave PSG in January 2023 . This striker felt betrayed when the PSG leadership did not keep their promises when negotiating the contract.
But Ms. Lamari believes that the above information is part of a smear campaign in which her son is a victim. On October 13, she wrote on Twitter : “The usefulness of information caused Mbappe to be defamed? The evidence is that it was all part of a smear campaign that made Mbappe hated and forced to leave.”
Ms. Lamari and Mbappe during a trip to watch PSG play in March 2022. Photo: AFP
After PSG drew 1-1 with Benfica in round four of Group H of the Champions League on October 11, Mbappe and his mother attended an event organized by “Inspired by KM” – Mbappe’s charity fund. According to RMC Sport , the 2018 World Cup champion spent Wednesday, October 12, helping children in difficult circumstances, instead of watching bullfighting as reported by Spanish media.
At this event, Ms. Lamari expressed her pride in Mbappe. “When Mbappe became world champion, as someone who used to play sports, I was really happy,” she said. “But what I’m most proud of is the person Mbappe has become. My child still has a long way to go, but today, I’m very proud.”
Before the 2022 summer transfer window opened, Mbappe renewed his contract with PSG until 2025 with a weekly salary of 815,000 USD and became the highest-paid football player in the world. Since then, the French striker has been constantly changing his attitude, making many PSG teammates and staff unhappy.
“One day, Mbappe arrived at the Camp des Loges headquarters, laughing and greeting everyone. But the next day, he arrived without saying a word, without looking at anyone. And it has been like that since at the beginning of the season”, British newspaper Sportmail quoted an internal PSG source.
Mbappe has repeatedly publicly expressed his attitude towards his senior Neymar as well as criticized coach Christophe Galtier’s tactics. During the training session with France at the end of September, the striker complained that the playing style at PSG was not like the French team – where he had more space thanks to Olivier Giroud creating a wall and attracting the attention of the opponent’s defenders.
According to transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano, PSG has no intention of selling Mbappe in January 2023. The Parc des Princes team feels that the 23-year-old striker “just wants to put pressure on the board of directors”. The contract between the two parties is currently valid until 2025.
