Champions: Mbapp and his story when Zidane invited him to Valdebebas with 14 years: “Do I have to take off my shoes?” | Champions League 2019

Wednesday
26
February
2020

13:16

The French striker summarizes his experience in football in a letter 'To the young Kylian' in 'The Players Tribune'. “Many of us who raised the World Cup in Russia grew up in the suburbs.”

Mbapp celebrates a goal with PSG.
MARTIN BUREAU AFP

Kylian Mbapp wrote a letter 'To the young Kylians' on the platform'The Players Tribune', which serves as a tool for athletes to tell some of the stories of their lives.

In the text, the PSG forward It summarizes the beginnings of his career and his life in Bondy, his birthplace, a town near Pars. “My friends and I did not expect to be footballers. We did not have a plan- We sounded. Some children had superhero psters in their room. We had soccer players. I had a lot of Zidane and Cristiano. “

The attacker has detail the first time I met Zidane, when he was part of the organizational chart of Madrid and was interested in Mbapp, who at that time was 14 years old. “My father received a call from Madrid. It was a shock. Apparently, Zidane wanted to see me. I was above the moon. I was desperate to go.” On his birthday, young Kylian's parents gave him a surprise trip to Valdebebas, organized by Zizou, to know the facilities of the white club. “It was a surprise, because many scouts come to my matches and my family wanted to protect me. We didn't tell anyone where we were, I was very nervous, “he explains.

Upon arriving at Valdebebas, he found the one who is now the white coach: “He offered to drive us around the car. And I was so nervous that I asked him: 'Do I have to take off my shoes to get into the car?' I don't know why I said that. But it was Zizou's car! He laughed and said no. We started to go around there and I just thought 'I'm in Zidane's car'. I'm Kylian from Bondy. This is not real, I must be dreaming. “

Later in the text, Mbapp summarizes his feelings when he debuted in the Russia World Cup: “I entered the field and listened to La Marseillaise. I could have cried. It was indescribable. Many of us who raised the World Cup that summer grew up in the suburbs. In the neighborhoods where you hear many languages ​​walking down the street. “

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