Obedient son and Mbappe’s Portuguese citizenship

Kylian Mbappe takes center stage in the latest special edition of France Football, which dives deep into the career of the global superstar and includes insights from many of his current and former teammates.

Mbappe’s mother, Fayza Lamari, also shared her perspective, revealing some behind-the-scenes details about the long-running transfer saga between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

As fans may recall, Madrid chased Mbappe relentlessly for years, with several near-moves that never materialized—until 2024, when he finally joined the Spanish giants on a free transfer.

Lamari explained: "When he renewed his contract with PSG in 2022, we were the ones who asked him to stay. That was the only time we intervened. There was a lot of pressure. We were told that staff would be laid off if he left, that there were problems with the TV rights, that it was Paris, with the new training center, the Olympic Games, the upcoming World Cup. Besides, Paris was on track to win the Champions League."

The timing has added a bitter twist: one year after Mbappe’s departure, PSG captured their first-ever Champions League title, while the French star continues to await his maiden triumph in Europe’s top competition.

Mbappe’s passion for football was evident from a young age, fueled by the influence of his idols. Lamari recalled: "It started with Zidane, when he was just 4 years old. Then CR7 came along when he moved to Manchester and later to Real Madrid. As for Cristiano, Kylian felt Portuguese. To Cristiano, he was Portuguese. He went to a friend's father's house to watch Portugal's games and cheer on Ronaldo. He was in love. He said, 'I am Portuguese.'"