Kylian Mbappe faces heavy criticism following Caen manager Nicolas Seube's dismissal

Mbappe recently invested in Ligue 2 club Caen.

Following the “disrespectful” firing of Caen head coach Nicolas Seube, Real Madrid sensation Kylian Mbappe has come under heavy fire.

Soon after joining Real Madrid on a free transfer, former Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappe sealed an unexpected takeover at Caen on July 31, 2024. Through its investment arm Coalition Capital, Mbappe’s company Interconnected Ventures acquired a majority ownership in the Ligue 2 team. The World Cup winner reportedly contributed €15 million (£12 million/$16) of his personal funds to the enterprise.

Sadly, Mbappe’s commitment has not immediately paid off on the field for Caen, who at this point in the 2024–25 season have dropped to 16th place in the Ligue 2 standings.

According to an official statement released by the club on Sunday, “After a year at the head of the professional team, Stade Malherbe Caen has decided to end its collaboration with Nicolas Seube.” Seube paid the ultimate price for Caen’s performance.

Brahim Thiam, a former Caen defender who starred for the team from 2005 to 2009, was upset to hear of Seube’s departure. In a bitter tirade to France Bleu, Thiam blamed Mbappe and his family for not upholding the club’s fundamental principles. Thiam believes Seube should have received far better treatment because he had a fantastic playing career at Caen as well.

“It’s as if we kicked Nicolas Seube in the butt by telling him: go away! In fact, it’s just disrespectful,” Thiam began. “I’m not saying that Nicolas Seube, through his time at the club had a totem of immunity because the results are not good. But I don’t even take that into account. I’m just wondering: is this the new Malherbe? Is it forgetting a little bit the history, the values of this club? This decision doesn’t surprise me.

I don’t have the words to describe it. I call it a rag against a guy who deserves a big hat tip and who, perhaps, everyone will talk about to their children and grandchildren. Because I think that Nicolas Seube is probably the emblematic player of the last 30 years at Caen. I think that from the moment Pierre-Antoine Capton (the chairman of the club’s supervisory board) sold 80% of the club’s shares to the Mbappe family, Nicolas Seube’s future was dotted. That’s my personal conviction. The future would not have been made with him.”

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