Fayza Lamari reveals Kylian Mbappé convinced her to remain SM Caen owner

It has been a turbulent first season as owners of SM Caen for the Mbappés. It is a season that was greeted with optimism but ended with the club relegated from Ligue 2 to the National 1. 

Having burned through three managers and having finished rock-bottom, the reaction from Caen’s fans has been one of indignation. Kylian Mbappé, who purchased the club through his investment fund, Coalition Capital, has not been spared. “Management, players – all to blame, all out,” read a banner from the Caen fans earlier this month, calling for a clear-out at the club.

Amid the anger, Mbappé’s mother, Fayza Lamari, considered ending the investment, as she has told Ici Normandie. “I remember humbly telling Kylian that they (Caen) didn’t deserve us and that we had to know when to leave when we weren’t wanted. He didn’t want [to leave]. He convinced me otherwise,” Lamari said. 

She added, “And today, it would be dishonest for us to leave.” In the interview, Lamari specifically stated that the Mbappés would not leave Caen. She did, nonetheless, admit that the relegation to National 1 does change the plans, although there won’t be a loss of money. “The objective is to tell ourselves that we are making a societal project of it,” said Lamari. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle