‘Respect What Mbappe Did’: PSG Fans Urged to Move Past Real Madrid Taunts After Historic Champions League Win

Despite the bitterness of his free transfer, Kylian Mbappe’s legacy at PSG deserves more appreciation from fans basking in the glow of European glory

It was perhaps inevitable that Kylian Mbappe’s return to face Paris Saint-Germain would be met with hostility. The banners, the boos, the biting chants—it was all there when Real Madrid lined up against PSG in the Club World Cup semi-final earlier this summer. The Parc des Princes faithful had been simmering ever since Mbappe’s long-awaited departure became official. After years of speculation, the French superstar finally made the leap to Real Madrid. On a free transfer, no less.

But in the wake of PSG’s greatest-ever season, one that finally delivered the Champions League trophy they so desperately craved, a new voice has entered the debate: Djibril Cisse. The former Liverpool and France striker has called for a shift in perspective. His message to PSG supporters is simple—acknowledge the past, respect the contribution, and don’t let bitterness overshadow Mbappe’s legacy.

Mbappe’s Departure Still Stings—for Some

For a section of PSG fans, Mbappe’s exit to Real Madrid was more than just a transfer—it felt like betrayal. This wasn’t a player who had been pushed out or forced to leave for greener pastures. Mbappe had been the face of the club, their local hero, the man who carried the torch for French football’s most glamorous side.

And yet, after years of back-and-forth contract drama, cryptic interviews, and last-minute U-turns, he left when the club arguably needed him most. Or so they thought.

What followed was something few expected. In his absence, Luis Enrique’s new-look PSG flourished. Freed from the weight of expectation and the star-power conundrum, the squad found balance and identity. The result? A historic 2024-25 campaign capped with the club’s first-ever Champions League title.

It’s no surprise, then, that some fans have tried to frame the triumph as a kind of moral victory—proof that PSG didn’t need Mbappe to reach the mountaintop.

Cisse: “What Kylian Did Is Big”

Cisse, speaking on The Bridge, offered a different lens. “We must savour the victory rather than say ‘Kylian was not there, we won’ and try to taunt him,” he said. “A Champions League is a long-term task. Marquinhos thanked Thiago Silva… All these people have made Paris grow. Kylian is one of them.”

And he’s right. Winning the Champions League isn’t about one season—it’s the culmination of years of growth, setbacks, and reinvention. Mbappe may not have lifted the trophy with PSG, but his impact on the club’s evolution is undeniable.

In 308 appearances, he netted a staggering 256 goals. He won six Ligue 1 titles. He became PSG’s all-time leading scorer. He delivered match-winning performances in domestic and European competitions alike, and for much of his tenure, he was the reason PSG remained relevant on the global stage.

“There are the slightly smarter fans and fans who ignore all this,” Cisse continued. “What Kylian did for PSG is big. That has to be respected.”

From Local Hero to Madrid Galactico

Mbappe’s journey from Bondy to the Bernabeu has been a decade in the making. He arrived in Paris as a teenager with world-class potential and leaves as one of the most recognisable figures in global sport. That he chose Madrid—a club synonymous with the Champions League—for his next chapter was perhaps predictable.

Still, the manner of his departure—on a free transfer, after a contract standoff that lasted over a year—left a sour taste. PSG’s hierarchy had pulled out all the stops to keep him. Reportedly, they offered record-breaking wages, player influence, and even input on club decisions.

But Mbappe had made his decision. He wanted to test himself on a different stage. That stage, fittingly, was where he faced his former club in the Club World Cup semi-final.

A Rough Reunion in Riyadh

The rematch, however, didn’t go according to script for Mbappe. In what should have been a marquee moment, Real Madrid were humbled 4-0 by an energetic and ruthless PSG side. Mbappe barely registered a shot on target, suffocated by a defence that seemed to relish the occasion.

For PSG fans, it was sweet revenge—a chance to show the world they could not only survive, but thrive without the man who once defined their attack.

But if anything, that moment should serve as closure. The page has turned. Mbappe is gone, PSG have conquered Europe, and there’s no need for bitterness.

Legacy and Perspective

The Champions League win is a crowning moment for the club, but it’s also the product of many past contributions—both celebrated and forgotten. Just as Marquinhos rightly thanked Thiago Silva, a nod should be given to players like Mbappe, who dragged PSG to semi-finals and finals when the team around him was faltering.

Respect doesn’t require forgiveness or blind adoration. It simply means acknowledging reality. Mbappe gave his best years to PSG, broke records, won titles, and helped elevate the club’s global image. And though he didn’t deliver the trophy that always eluded them during his time, his efforts laid the groundwork for what came after.

What Comes Next for Mbappe and PSG?

Mbappe is now part of Real Madrid’s new era under Xabi Alonso, and despite the Club World Cup blip, expectations remain sky-high. He’ll be hoping to bounce back quickly when the La Liga season kicks off against Osasuna on August 19.

As for PSG, they’ve entered a golden age of their own. With young talents, tactical clarity, and newfound team unity, the future looks brighter than ever. And perhaps, with time, the bitterness over Mbappe’s exit will fade—replaced by an appreciation of what he meant to the club, and how far they’ve come.