Kylian Mbappe’s funding in Caen was meant to be a daring step towards reviving a membership with deep soccer roots. Nonetheless, simply months after his funding fund, Coalition Capital, acquired an 80% stake, the membership finds itself in a freefall, languishing on the backside of Ligue 2 and dealing with an more and more annoyed fanbase.
Following seven consecutive league defeats and the sacking of supervisor Nicolas Seube in December, Caen has slipped into disaster mode. New supervisor Bruno Baltazar has been unable to halt the slide, and after their 3-0 loss to Troyes, the membership now sits seven factors adrift of the relegation play-off spot held by Crimson Star FC.
With anger boiling over, followers have turned their frustrations towards Mbappe’s household and membership president Ziad Hammoud, elevating critical questions on their potential to steer the membership out of turmoil. As Caen’s state of affairs worsens, the fan backlash has grown more and more hostile. On Thursday, banners had been displayed on the membership’s coaching amenities, straight attacking Mbappe’s mom, Fayza Lamari.
One of many banners learn: “Fayza, the peasants are in deep sh*t.” One other message focused the membership’s management, demanding: “Hammoud resign. The place are you?” A 3rd banner carried a stark reminder to the administration: “Consider those that work within the shadows.”
These messages mirror the deep disappointment amongst supporters, who anticipated a aggressive marketing campaign after narrowly lacking the promotion play-offs final season. As an alternative, they’ve watched their workforce plunge right into a relegation battle.
What did Caen president say about Mbappe?
Underneath mounting stress, membership president Ziad Hammoud, an in depth ally of Mbappe, broke his silence over the weekend, addressing issues in an interview with Ouest-France. Acknowledging the criticism, he admitted: “Maybe we’ve not communicated sufficient, and I settle for this criticism.”
Nonetheless, Hammoud defended the Mbappe household’s involvement, arguing that they’re deeply dedicated to the membership’s success: “To say we’re disconnected is unfair. The shareholders are true soccer fans, 100% concerned. They’ve invested their private cash; this isn’t a sport for them.”
Sporting nightmare: Mbappe’s legacy in danger?
When Coalition Capital took over from American funding agency Oaktree final July, there was optimism that Mbappe’s affect may usher in a brand new period for Caen. As an alternative, the mission has spiraled right into a catastrophe, elevating doubts about whether or not soccer superstars must be straight concerned in membership possession.
With relegation to Nationwide [France’s third tier] looming, the Mbappe household’s first main enterprise into soccer possession is dealing with a credibility disaster. Can a world celebrity like Mbappe actually flip round a struggling membership, or is that this merely a misguided monetary experiment?
Loading…