All that’s missing is an official speech on the “Address to the French” mode from the Elysée! Kylian Mbappé is not only one of the very best footballers in the world, he also has a real talent for communicating, as we know. And a real political sense. Two qualities that have become essential for the stars of this activity with its unequaled global impact.
Mbappé flaunted this on Monday when explaining his decision to refuse the offer of the biggest football club in the world, Real Madrid, to stay at PSG. “I chose France!”he launched, explaining that he wanted “live” and even “to get old” in his country. A patriotic choice, then! The player also assured that he would participate in the Paris Olympics in two years with the France team and that it was also one of the conditions of the new contract he signed with PSG.
The two men had a dialogue and Kylian Mbappé said he had “appreciated the good advice” of the Head of State who obviously encouraged him to stay in France. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, a regular at the Parc des Princes, did the same. Paris, France, the 2024 Olympics and two presidents, Mbappé’s communication was perfect. Bad tongues will slip that he just forgot to greet Anne Hidalgo…
In any case, we measure a little more to what extent football has become a political affair. In France but also well beyond our borders. Qatar, owner of PSG, did not want to let go of its star six months before the World Cup which will take place in the emirate. The Gulf countries clash even on the football fields and the fate of Mbappé had also become a real geopolitical issue.
And yet, it’s only football. Despite the astronomical sums, the gigantic commercial interests, and the geopolitical rivalries that it carries, football is only a game, and even child’s play. To better convince yourself of this, and put the importance of football into perspective, you have to remember the famous phrase of Bill Shankly, the legendary manager of the English club Liverpool in the 1960s: “No, football is not a matter of life or death… It’s much more important than that!”