While the future of Kylian Mbappé (25) looks to be set in stone, with the forward privately committed to leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, the future of the other Mbappé is far less clear.
Ethan Mbappé (17), the younger brother of the generational star had begun to take his first steps in the professional game after being called up from the academy to train with the first team. The younger Mbappé even made his debut back in the last game of 2023 when he came on for the dying minutes of the 3-1 victory over Metz.
In January, Mbappé also made substitute appearances against US Revel and US Orléans, and by February he was even included in the squad that faced Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16. Since then Mbappé has not been included any further in match-day squads, and the reason appears quite simple.
The day after PSG beat Real Sociedad 2-0, the news broke that Kylian had informed the club of his decision. It’s led to the older Mbappé facing reduced minutes, and while Ethan Mbappé had originally looked to continue his career in Paris, the future no longer seems quite so clear.
At one stage it had looked like Mbappé was close to signing a professional contract, “We were quite close to a signature, but now we seem quite far from it.”
An internal source at the club speaking to L’Équipe informed the paper that “Relations between the Mbappé and the club have cooled significantly. There are quite significant tensions, particularly with the mother, who accuses the club of wanting to harm Kylian’s image. It will play a role in the decisions that have to be made around Ethan, that’s for sure.”
It’s an issue that calls into question the sporting level of Ethan Mbappé as unlike his brother he does not have the status or the current ability to demand minutes at a club that appears reluctant to want to do so.
“Ethan is a great boy, who is making quite strong progress, but can he really claim to be in this group? Many at the club think it’s still too early.” A position which appears to summarise the unfortunate situation for the younger Mbappé: the midfielder’s progress was accelerated as a symbol of appeasement to his older brother.
And now that his brother’s happiness is no longer the priority of the club, he is pushed to the back. A game piece within a wider struggle. A situation that may see him like his brother leave the French capital.
GFFN | Nick Hartland