SM Caen Supporter Protests Ownership Of Kylian Mbappe
JAKARTA - The supporters of the French second division (Ligue 2) club, SM Caen, expressed their feelings about Kylian Mbappe's majority ownership of the club's shares.
On Friday, January 3, 2025, their local time unfurled several banners as they lost 0-1 to Clermont Foot.
"Mbappe, SMC is not your toy," reads one banner, referring to the group's decision to fire the popular Nicolas Seube after the first half of the disappointing season.
"Before shining on the world stage, respect local figures," read another banner.
"Here, legends are made through hard work and loyalty," wrote the third banner.
Seube has been linked with Caen since 2001, featured in 477 league appearances and scored 10 goals before retiring in 2017. He was replaced by Portuguese coach Bruno Baltazar, in December 2024.
Mbappe became part of the executive group responsible for the club in July 2024 when his company's investment funds bought 80 percent of shares in Caen from the United States company, Oaktree Capital.
The relationship between the Mbappe and Caen families has been going on for a long time. In 2014, when Mbappe was 13 years old, he almost signed a contract with them before voting for Monaco.
Caen is located in Normandy, 240 km west of Paris. The team is in 16th position from 18 Ligue 2 teams.
The two bottom teams in the division will be relegated automatically, while the team in 16th position will enter the relegation playoffs with the team in third place in the lower league.