Mbappe pens letter to Monaco fans
PARIS: Rising star Kylian Mbappe on Monday tried to explain his big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco after receiving fierce criticism from hardcore Monaco fans.
The 18-year-old joined PSG on a season-long loan with an option to buy that would make him the second most expensive player of all-time for a fee that could reach €180 million.
Before the move, Monaco’s ‘Ultras’ had lambasted Mbappe for his behaviour and his wage demands that were leaked to the French press.
“I know that a few of you don’t understand my choice and that you’re angry and I understand that,” Mbappe wrote in an emotional statement on Twitter.
The France international was booed by his old fans while he sat on the bench during Ligue 1 champions Monaco’s 6-1 thrashing of Marseille, their last game before Mbappe left for title rivals PSG.
“I also understand some boos when we last [met],” he added.
“Because false information circulated throughout the ‘Mbappe soap opera’. But I haven’t changed, my entourage hasn’t changed and our values remain the same; humility, simplicity and respect.
“You can be angry, hate me or boo me but you can never stop me from loving you because the truth is there — I love you.”
Meanwhile, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has questioned Mbappe’s loan to PSG.
“We [Monaco] could not understand to the very end whether this deal was really possible as Uefa had questions for PSG about their compliance with financial fairplay,” he said.