Kylian Mbappé shares he experienced "displeasing elements" during his last season at PSG.
The 25-year-old's recent move to the Spanish capital was confirmed on Monday, ending one of soccer's longest-running transfer sagas. Mbappé spoke at a media conference on Tuesday before France's friendly against Luxembourg, stating that his long-awaited transfer to Madrid was a "relief." He also mentioned that his final season in Paris varied between happy and unhappy moments.
Although he generally expressed satisfaction with his last year at the club, Mbappé went into detail about one aspect that hampered his joy.
"So I tried to stay positive as much as I could," he said to reporters. "And, as I said, the coach, the players, everyone at the club helped me a lot. But, of course, there were things and people that made me unhappy."
Mbappé chose not to reveal who or what led to his unhappiness during his last season at the club.
Extensive speculation linked Mbappé with a transfer to Los Blancos before he signed a two-year contract extension with PSG in 2022. He played more than 300 games for the French club, scoring his 250th goal in March and winning the Ligue 1 title that same month.
However, his final season in Paris was plagued by speculation about his future and Mbappé admitted on Tuesday that some at the club told him he wouldn't see the field at all last season.
"It was said to me, it was clear, it was conveyed through the media, and it was said to my face," he disclosed. "So, for me, I was convinced that I wasn't going to play. But the people who saved me were Luis Enrique, the coach, and Luís Campos, the sporting director. They are the ones who saved me. Without them, I would never have set foot on the field again."
CNN reached out to PSG for comment on Mbappé's press conference.
Previously, before Mbappé's transfer to Madrid was confirmed, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi paid tribute to the French international in an interview with CNN.
"I wish him all the best," Al-Khelaifi said, speaking to CNN Sport's Amanda Davies at the Globe Soccer Awards Forum in Sardinia, Italy. "He's done amazing for us for seven years. He came to us at 18 years old or less, and now he's a big man, the best player in the world.
"I'm proud of what he's done for the club, and I wish him all the best. You never know, maybe one day he comes back to France. That's football."
Mbappé described himself as "very happy" to join Real, emphasizing how happiness improves his performance on the field. However, he remained focused on supporting France in this summer's European Championship in Germany, with their campaign starting on June 17 against Austria.
"I think that it is the things that you can easily see on my face," he said. "As I said, it's something I've always wanted. So, I'm very happy. After the last season, of course, I played less - everyone knows why I played less. But it is like this, you have to adapt.
"There are challenges to overcome when you're a high-level athlete, and this will definitely not be an excuse for my performances. At the moment, we're working hard on my physicality with the coach, so I know I'll return in the best shape possible. And my goal is to help the French team go as far as possible and, of course, to try and bring the trophy home."
France's Euros campaign starts on June 17 against Austria.
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Despite his recent move to Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe mentioned that his final season at Paris Saint-Germain was a mix of happy and unhappy moments due to certain "displeasing elements."
During his press conference, Mbappe highlighted the support he received from coach Luis Enrique and sporting director Luís Campos, who helped him overcome the challenges and play despite speculation about his future.
