‘At PSG, I would have stayed in my brother’s shadow’ – Ethan Mbappé opens up on PSG exit | OneFootball

While Kylian Mbappé (25) left for Real Madrid on a free transfer after seven seasons at PSG, younger brother Ethan Mbappé (17) decided to also not renew his contract at the Capital club and joined Lille OSC. The 17-year-old midfielder opened up on his departure during his presentation.

Walking in the steps of his brother, Ethan Mbappé emerged through PSG’s youth categories, even making his professional debut last season at home against FC Metz. In total, the central midfielder took part in five games across all competitions with the first team, while being a key player for the reserve team despite a nightmarish campaign in the UEFA Youth League, which saw the Capital club finish last in the group stage and exit the competition before the knockout stage. If Ethan could have renewed his contract to pursue his development at PSG’s state-of-the art facilities or could have joined his brother at Real Madrid, he decided to walk in the steps of former PSG Academy players Mike Maignan, Jonathan Ikoné, and Fodé Balo-Touré by joining Lille.

‘People will criticise you and expect you to be like your brother’

Presented to the media on Thursday alongside other signings Thomas Meunier (32) and Ngal’Ayel Mukau (19), Ethan Mbappé opened up on his departure from his formative club. “I had to create my own path, my own story. At PSG, I would have stayed in my brother’s shadow. I think LOSC is the right choice for that” he said. The right-footed midfielder also admitted the difficulties of bearing Mbappé’s name, having to cope with comparison and critics: “It’s complicated at the beginning because you always have to be good, people will criticise you and expect you to be like your brother, when that’s not the case. It’s a difficult name to live up to, but I manage it perfectly. I’m trying to write my story.”

GFFN l Grégoire Devaux