Fayza Lamari, Kylian Mbappe’s mother, discussed his childhood support of Milan ahead of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
The 24-year-old French star has been on fire for the Parisian giants this term, netting nine goals and providing one assist across his first 10 games. The standout star in the squad, he is expected to help drive the team to European glory for the first time in their history this season.
A video that has circulated widely amongst social media showing a young Mbappe wearing a Milan shirt has endlessly excited Rossoneri fans, who dream of seeing the star Frenchman in black and red before the end of his career.
Lamari spoke on page 12 of today’s Gazzetta dello Sport with friends Nicola and Beatrice Riccardi, who were joined by their son Antonio Riccardi, who was one of Mbappe’s earliest coaches and friends.
The younger Riccardi first joked about Mbappe’s thoughts on Milan, saying: “Kylian told me that Milan were part of his plans, but at the end of his career. He was joking unfortunately. No-one or almost no-one can afford him now.”
Beatrice Riccardi remembered Mbappe’s childhood and relationship with her son Antonio.
“They would break knick-knacks and paintings that they would hide, pretending nothing was happening. With his smile, Mbappé made up for everything. He is always our Kylian.”
Antonio Riccardi reflected on how he used to watch Milan’s matches with the PSG star, pushing him to support the club.
“I used to impose on him all the league matches. I remember the one for the 18th Scudetto, it was a big party. But I used to tease him by telling him he looked like Dida.
“At the age of five he was already stronger than me, someone who is ten years older. It was nice to coach him, and he would score when he decided to win. He is a real football fan.”
Lamari confirmed Mbappe’s childhood support of Milan.
“He is the son of sportsmen, but he was immersed in cheering for Milan right from the start. When he came home, he would only talk about Milan. If Milan lost, he could throw the remote control at the TV and say a few bad words in Italian.”
The group were asked about the video showing Mbappe wearing a Milan shirt as a child. Nicola Riccardi started: “We gave it to him because we called him little Robinho.”
His mother Lamari chimed in, noting how he wore a variety of shirts as a kid. “He wore it for training and even to bed. But like so many others: Real Madrid, France, PSG, Manchester United for CR7. He loved top strikers, but he could also wear the shirt of Frei of Rennes,” she said.
“If they had told us fifteen years ago that he would be the star of PSG-Milan we would never have believed it. Instead, that’s exactly what happened,” Lamari concluded.