Mbappé reveals his 'extraordinary' fame dehumanizes him, but prefers Madrid to France

Kylian Mbappé has given a rare account of the price of his celebrity, confiding to L’Équipe that his fame is now ‘extraordinary’ and that he was ‘never prepared’ for it.

The Real Madrid forward opened up on the subject after his spring getaway to Sardinia with actress Ester Esposito had sparked anger among some Madrid supporters. “It’s sometimes heavy, because I’ve entered the category of those who are scrutinized at every moment. Everything to do with paparazzi is a bit more tiring. It dehumanizes us, makes us a bit like circus animals,” he said.

The Bondy native acknowledges having learned to cope with this reality, without entirely accepting it. “For people like me, a dream day is a return to simplicity: not being bothered, being able to do what you want, with who you want, where you want. These are things that have become a luxury for me, when they’re actually super simple things. But you must never complain about the love you receive from people.”

Mbappé does distinguish his current situation from what he experienced in France. “Let’s say I was prepared fairly early to live a ‘normal’ celebrity, because my entourage knew I was probably going to become a very good footballer. But today, I’m beyond super famous, my fame is extraordinary. And that, you’re never prepared for. You just have to accept it and adapt.”

It is precisely Madrid that allows him, according to him, to find that balance. “I can go out, sometimes without security… I can live, more than in France,” he said, before adding: “I can do activities I’ve never done before. And that’s cool. That’s why I also really love life in Madrid, beyond Real, which was my childhood dream. Life there is much quieter for me.”

These comments come as Mbappé prepares to play in his third World Cup following a difficult first season in the white shirt.