Six months after the deal, the Frenchman's decision to become co-owner of SM Caen is starting to draw major criticism from supporters.
Kylian Mbappe is finally starting to look home from Real Madrid, but fans in France are growing increasingly frustrated with his actions. The Frenchman is co-owner of second division club SM Caen and was on the receiving end of some critical banners on Friday.
Caen supporters unfurled banners reading “Mbappé, SMC is not your toy” and “Respect the local figures before you shine on the world stage”.
The reports relate to the decision to sack manager Nicolas Seube, a Caen icon who first started as a player in 2001. Seube made 477 league appearances for Caen and joined the coaching staff in 2018 as an assistant to the under-19 team. He worked his way up until he was appointed head coach of the senior team in 2023.
Poor results in the first half of the 2024/25 season saw him sacked in December, a decision that angered Caen supporters. As one banner unfurled Friday read: “Here, legends are made by work and loyalty.”
Does Kylian Mbappe own Caen?
Although he is not the sole owner of SM Caen, Mbappe has bought a majority stake in the second tier. ESPN reports that he is the youngest active player to own a professional team in European football.
He is believed to have spent around $15 million to take over the club, acquiring an 80% stake. As part of the deal, Mbappé also paid off some of the club's debts.
The club was previously owned by the American investment fund Oaktree. In May 2024, Oaktree took control of Italian giants Inter Miami, taking over from Chinese conglomerate Suning.
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