Nothing is going as planned for Kylian Mbappé | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé's bold gamble turns into a nightmare

Nothing is going as planned for Kylian Mbappé

One year after the takeover of SM Caen by Coalition Capital, led by Fayza Lamari and her son Kylian Mbappé, the Normandy project is facing a deep crisis. This Wednesday, the club officially announced the dismissal of 16 employees—a drastic measure but deemed essential to ensure its financial survival.

The summer of 2024 was supposed to be a historic turning point: a World Cup winner becoming the owner of a French professional club, with the ambition of bringing Caen back among the elite. But the reality on the pitch quickly dashed those hopes. Relegated to the National division in the very first season of the Mbappé era, SMC never managed to find its balance—either on the sporting or financial front. Internal conflicts, unclear communication, and criticized management have become the daily routine of a club losing its way.

A painful but necessary restructuring

In the face of relegation and a weakened budget, Fayza Lamari tried to reassure: “We remain committed to building a solid foundation, with a budget maintained at around 12 million euros.” That's a significant sum for a National division club, but not enough to absorb debts and keep the staff intact.

The employment protection plan, approved after several months of administrative back-and-forth, has led to the departure of 16 employees from the administrative, marketing, and commercial departments. Today, the club has just 68 staff left and sits at a worrying 10th place after 12 matchdays.

The dream of seeing SM Caen reclaim its place among the giants of French football slips further away. For Kylian Mbappé, this entrepreneurial venture is turning into a far more complex challenge than he ever anticipated.