Will leave, won’t leave? The Mbappé soap opera is shaking up all the cottages, especially since several press titles internationals are talking about the Frenchman’s imminent arrival at Real Madrid. Very little information is leaking from the side of the star. Kylian Mbappé only let it be known that he would give his decision “long before“the gathering of the France team scheduled for May 28. For their part, PSG supporters are already preparing to lose their star.
Beyond the sporting aspect, the possible transfer of Kylian Mbappé could have a considerable impact on his image in France and internationally. Frank Hocquemiller, image agent for several high-level athletes (footballer Lucas Hernandez, rugby player Romain Ntamack, etc.), deciphers for franceinfo: sport the stakes of a potential transfer from the Parisian star to Real Madrid.
Franceinfo: sport: Would a departure for Real Madrid really mean that Kylian Mbappé would land on another planet, when he is already a star in Paris?
Frank Hocquemiller: There is no doubt about it. If Kylian Mbappé were to choose Real, perhaps the biggest club in the world, he would enter a whole new dimension. It would change his status a lot, especially internationally. Even if PSG is a club that has made enormous progress in its overall notoriety over the past ten years, Mbappé would gain new fans, especially in the Spanish-speaking world, which he does not really reach today. He would benefit from even greater media exposure, would be required to sign new advertising contracts. In a word, he would pass a milestone in relation to his status at PSG.
So does this mean that the PSG “Qatar version” is not big enough for Mbappé’s ambitions?
Kylian Mbappé has excessive ambitions, rightly given his talent. However, I remain convinced that he should extend the adventure to Paris. It should be remembered that the capital club remains in pole position to make the best financial and sporting offer to its striker. It is here that he can earn the most money from Qatari funds and get the most important role in the club. HAS In my opinion, the “image-sportsman-money” ratio is largely favorable to PSG.
He does not know what sauce he will be eaten in Madrid. What place will he occupy alongside Karim Benzema? How long will it take for him to gain the trust of Ancelotti and the fans? How will he become familiar with the Madrid climate? So many questions that make, in my eyes, the Parisian project is the one with the least uncertainty for its short-term future.
If I were his image advisor, I would suggest he stay at PSG for another two seasons. If he doesn’t get injured, he will mark the history of Ligue 1 even more and his influence will be undeniable among French fans. Two years later, at 26, he will have plenty of time to test his rating again on the European market.
Would playing in a foreign championship take him away from the eyes of French supporters?
I do not believe. Some will be unhappy to see him leave the national championship, but most will understand that the stakes are higher at Real. Maybe it will even give him an even higher love rating here. The examples that support this hypothesis are numerous in history. Zidane doubled in popularity by leaving Bordeaux for Juve, the same for Thierry Henry when he joined Arsenal after Monaco…
What matters to the French is the involvement in the France team. On this side, Mbappé has always been exemplary. If he continues to be as successful with the Blues, he will never fall out of love with the supporters, regardless of the club in which he will play for the next few seasons.