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When Kylian Mbappé decided to leave PSG for Real Madrid in 2025, it was to position himself to win the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.
The Spanish side are always in the conversation for the Champions League and have had multiple players win the Ballon d’Or in recent years. As a result, Mbappé saw it as his duty to obtain both honors.
However, Year 1 at Real Madrid didn’t go as planned. Moreover, PSG won the Champions League, and his former teammate Ousmane Dembélé won the honor this year, too. Despite Mbappé believing this was the right decision, another former teammate doesn’t agree with him.
Presnel Kimpembe Doesn’t Hold Back on UCL Honor
Although Presnel Kimpembe didn’t mention Mbappé by name, he did state that winning the Champions League at PSG means more to him than had he won it with Real Madrid, considering he’s part of the squad to deliver the first-ever Champions League to the Parisians.
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“These are emotions that are almost impossible to describe,” Kimpembe told Foot Mercato (h/t Paris Fans). “I came up through the club’s academy. I’ve spent my whole life here, fighting for this moment for several years. We’ve had failures, we’ve fallen, and we’ve gotten back up.
“We showed character. It hasn’t been easy. As I’ve always said, the pressure in Paris isn’t the same as in other clubs. I’d rather win one here in Paris than five at Real Madrid or elsewhere with no disrespect, of course. With all the respect I have for the clubs that have won it, this is something very special in Paris. Everyone has been waiting for this for years. We fought hard to make it happen. It was incredibly difficult.”
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