It was previously reported that fans of this club hate him 😬❗️ Now we understand why… 😶Details via the link in the comments 👇

Draft Title: It is known how Mbappe manages his club in France

The 2024/2025 football season has been a tale of two worlds for Kylian Mbappé. On one hand, he dazzled fans in Spain, making a sensational debut for Real Madrid and capping his campaign with the prestigious Golden Boot. On the other hand, his lesser-known but emotionally significant project in France — Stade Malherbe Caen — hit a major low, as the club suffered relegation from Ligue 2 to the third tier of French football, known as the Championnat National.

This downturn for Caen, a club that Mbappé acquired an 80% majority stake in during the summer of 2024, has brought fresh scrutiny to his role as a footballer-turned-investor. Criticism has poured in from some Caen fans who believe the Real Madrid superstar hasn’t done enough to stop the decline of the Normandy-based club. Yet, a recent investigative report by L’Équipe sheds light on what’s really happening behind the scenes — and it paints a much different picture.

Despite being Caen’s principal owner, Mbappé is reportedly not a meddling boss. According to the club’s head of recruitment, Reda Hammache, Mbappé plays the role of a modern, responsible shareholder. “He’s not someone who calls all the time or gets in the way. He wants to be informed, but he trusts us to handle the sporting side of things,” Hammache explained. “We talk to him about football — about the value of players, team cohesion, things like that — but we never get into financial discussions.”

The club’s key decisions are made by a core leadership team: president Zihad Hammoud, general manager Jocelyn Flamand, technical director Pascal Plancque, and Hammache himself. Once decisions are made, they are passed along to Mbappé’s mother, Fayza Lamari, who acts as an intermediary and informs Kylian. This structure ensures that Mbappé remains updated without micromanaging the club’s operations.

Hammache revealed that Mbappé’s opinion is considered on major moves — such as the appointment of head coaches — but the final responsibility lies with the management. “He was always consulted about coaches like Bruno Baltazar, Michel Der Zakarian, and now Maxime d’Ornano. He supported all those choices,” said Hammache. “If he has a problem with something, he expresses it, and we give him space to be heard. But overall, he gives us full trust.”

Interestingly, Mbappé has no involvement in weekly tactical decisions or team selection. “He might ask about the lineup before a game, or he might find out by watching the match like everyone else. But he never interferes with the coach’s decisions,” Hammache clarified.

The forward, who has conquered the European stage with Real Madrid, seems to understand that building something sustainable at Caen requires patience, structure, and long-term vision — not quick-fix decisions from a distant superstar. That’s why he has reportedly given full autonomy to his trusted team in Normandy, even as the pressure intensifies following relegation.

Despite the setback, there’s renewed hope. Maxime d’Ornano, the newly appointed coach, has been tasked with one mission: bringing Caen back to Ligue 2. The Mbappé family, especially Fayza Lamari, has been actively involved in offering support while keeping Kylian informed. There are already plans for the striker to visit the club later this year, just like he did in February, to boost morale and reconnect with the players.

Mbappé’s involvement in Caen goes beyond a financial investment; it reflects his deeper commitment to French football’s grassroots. By owning and supporting a modest club like Caen, Mbappé hopes to nurture young talent and bring a touch of excellence to a region often overshadowed by larger clubs.

It’s important to note that Mbappé doesn’t own Caen outright. While he holds 80% of the shares, the remaining 20% is in the hands of PAC Invest — a company run by a local businessman. This arrangement reflects a shared vision for the club’s revival, blending Mbappé’s global influence with regional investment and expertise.

With the 2025/26 season approaching and National football on the horizon, Caen is under no illusions about the challenges ahead. Still, with a superstar owner who is hands-off yet fully supportive, and a unified management team in place, there’s cautious optimism that better days could lie ahead for the club from Normandy.