Paris – In an unprecedented move, kylian Mbappé personally informed leaders of the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) of his decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain before publicly announcing his transfer to Real Madrid, a gesture the CUP president, Romain Mabille, describes as a mark of respect. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of a match against Lille.
Mabille detailed that Mbappé, a native of the Île-de-France region who spent seven years with PSG, sought to deliver the news directly to the supporters. “He announces to people that he is leaving, he makes his speech. He says that after seven years at PSG, he has made the decision to go to Real Madrid, as he has never hidden it,” Mabille recounted. Mbappé reportedly expressed his appreciation for the Parisian supporters and maintained his respect for the club, stating, “I prefer to tell you to your face that I am leaving, that’s it, it’s official. Good luck to everyone.”
The CUP faced criticism for the meeting, notably following a large tifo and tribute for Mbappé during his final home match. Mabille defended the decision,stating,”If I had to do something again tomorrow,I would take the same position. You are a player who comes to tell us to our faces that he is going to leave. You are a little one from us, you want to tell us that, come on.”
Despite recent tensions surrounding Mbappé’s departure, Mabille emphasized the player’s legacy as PSG’s all-time leading goalscorer. “Over the last few weeks, ther have been lots of problems… it was heavy for everyone. It had to end, it was the end of a story,” he said. “We take the side of the club, we are supporters of the club, not supporters of Mbappé.” He affirmed that the CUP’s position was a balance between supporting the club and acknowledging Mbappé’s contributions, adding, “he didn’t pay us for the barbecue.”
