Kylian Mbappé Opens Up About Real Madrid Struggles, France Absence, and PSG Exit
It’s not every day that one of the world’s biggest soccer stars sits down for a candid, hour-long interview, but that’s exactly what Kylian Mbappé did this week. The Real Madrid forward, who joined the Spanish giants this season, spoke with Canal+ program Clique about his rocky start in Madrid, his absence from recent France national team squads, and his emotional departure from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). And let’s just say, he didn’t hold back.
Mbappé, who has scored 11 goals in 21 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions, admitted that his early struggles at the club were partly self-inflicted. Despite finding the back of the net in Madrid’s 3-0 LaLiga win over Girona on Saturday, the French superstar has faced criticism for his overall performances, especially as Madrid has endured some high-profile defeats this season.
“[Real Madrid] is a new context, a club, a new environment,” Mbappé said during the interview, which was recorded at his home in Madrid. “I’m going to have success here. At first, I was too hungry, it wasn’t good for me, because I was impatient. But I’m passionate and I’m competitive. Sometimes that goes against me.”
From Hot Start to Mid-Season Slump
Mbappé’s Real Madrid career started with a bang. He scored in his debut match, a 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, and followed it up with six more goals in September. But then came a rough patch. Over the next nine games, he managed just two goals, a stretch that included losses to Lille, AC Milan, and Liverpool in the Champions League, as well as a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clásico.
“It hasn’t been the best start to the season, but we’re preparing for trophies, which is what counts,” Mbappé said. “The start isn’t what we expected, but at Madrid, you have to wait for the second half of the season. That’s when you’re judged.”
Recently, Mbappé has shown signs of regaining his form, scoring against Getafe and Girona this month. But the pressure is always on at Real Madrid, and fans will be expecting him to deliver when it matters most—especially in the Champions League knockout stages.
What’s Going on with France?
Mbappé’s absence from the France national team in recent months has also raised eyebrows. After captaining Les Bleus during a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign—where he played with a broken nose—Mbappé featured in the September international break. However, he missed France’s October matches due to injury and was left out of the squad for two games in November by coach Didier Deschamps.
“The France national team has always been the highest level of football,” Mbappé said. “My love for the France national team has not changed. Yes, I miss it, because I haven’t been there for a long time.”
Mbappé explained that he had asked Deschamps not to call him up in September, as he had just arrived in Madrid and had a short offseason. “The coach insisted that I go,” he said. In October, an injury kept him out, and in November, Deschamps decided it was better not to include him. “He’s the boss, I’m behind him. I wanted to go, but I can’t say why they didn’t call me up.”
Reflecting on PSG: A Bittersweet Goodbye
Mbappé also opened up about his departure from PSG, where he spent seven years and became one of the world’s most recognizable players. His exit has been anything but smooth, with a legal battle over alleged unpaid wages and bonuses still ongoing. Despite the drama, Mbappé spoke fondly of his time in Paris.
“PSG, the club, meant a lot to me. I spent seven years there, it’s a super intense place, in good times and bad. I had seven extraordinary years,” he said. “I had conflicts with people, I defended my rights as a player, but that didn’t represent the club. I never mixed that up with the players, with the people in the academy, and the squad.”
Mbappé also addressed criticism from some PSG fans, who accused him of treating the club as a stepping stone to Real Madrid. “They say Kylian doesn’t care, they think that it was a hobby for me, before going to Madrid. I still watch PSG matches, I have always maintained a link with the club, that doesn’t just disappear.”
What’s Next for Mbappé?
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Mbappé to see if he can live up to the sky-high expectations that come with wearing the famous white jersey of Real Madrid. With the second half of the season looming, the Frenchman knows the pressure is on to deliver trophies and silence the critics.
For now, though, Mbappé seems determined to learn from his mistakes and channel his passion and competitiveness in the right direction. Whether it’s at Real Madrid, with the France national team, or in his ongoing battle with PSG, one thing is clear: Kylian Mbappé is never far from the spotlight.
Originally Written by: Alex Kirkland
