Kylian Mbappe has angrily slammed Paris Saints Germain as the striker was unimpressed by the French club using his image as their poster man to sell season tickets for the 2023/2024 campaign.
The Frenchman has attacked his club in a statement on Instagram, contending that he has been made too popular in their season tickets promo, acknowledging that he was not aware of the content and disagree with the video.
The advertisement features an interview with Mbappe, as well as clips of him in action on the field and with his adoring fans.
Lionel Messi and Neymar, two of his star teammates, are conspicuously absent from the commercial.
The 24-year-old player said in a statement that he was offended by the club’s usage of his likeness and that they are not “Kylian Saint-Germain.”
Kylian Mbappe wrote on his Instagram page; “I have just taken part in the viewing of the club’s renewal campaign for the 2023/2024 season”.
“At no time was I informed of the content of the interview with my interlocutor, it looked like a basic interview at the club marketing day, I disagree with the posted video “.
“That’s why I fight for individual image rights, PSG is a big club and a big family, but it is certainly not Kylian Saint Germain”.
Kylian Mbappe is prominently featured throughout the 75-second short clip, which included his words, his face, and the highlights of his time at the club thus far.
Beginning with an up-close interview with Mbappe, the video then cuts to shots of fans, young players, and ground staff at the Parc des Princes while the interview transcript plays in the background.
Since the future of Messi and Neymar at the Parc des Princes have been the subject of much discussion, the club appears to have staked its season ticket sales for the upcoming season on the belief that supporters will come to the stadium to see Mbappe play.
Kylian Mbappe has been careful throughout his career to avoid being associated with certain brands to safeguard his reputation and image.
In March 2022, the player spearheaded a boycott of the national team’s sponsors, including fast food and gambling corporations, since he did not want to be associated with those industries.
His motive for doing so could stem from a variety of sources. The most likely reason is that Mbappe stipulated in his last contract that he must be given complete ownership of all of his image rights.
It could also be a reflection of his mounting anxiety about the future. Real Madrid is monitoring Mbappe’s position after hearing he is unhappy with recent developments at PSG.
Kylian Mbappe has argued with the French Football Federation over the issue of his image rights, which was rumored to be a stumbling block in his negotiations with Real Madrid last summer.
Mbappe has scored 202 goals in just 251 games for Les Parisiens, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer.
He reportedly signed a contract extension at PSG that would keep him at the club until 2025 and earns him £4 million monthly. A year into the contract, he is reportedly dissatisfied at the club.
So, officials at the Parc des Princes will be eager to calm the player’s fears about the video or risk another round of back and forth concerning Mbappe’s future.
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