Gazzetta dello Sport reports the words of the French superstar’s mother, who spent many afternoons of his childhood at the home of an Italian family that ignited a passion for Milan. “Kylian was a Milan fan since he was a child.”
At 24 years old, Kylian Mbappé has already played 63 games in the Champions League, but with all the long list of all the opponents he has faced in Europe so far, Milan is yet to be among them. Tomorrow night at the Parc des Princes, it will be a first time for the French superstar, for whom the Rossoneri are not just any team.
This is confirmed by the words of his mother Fayza, as reported in an article published by La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Kylian comes from a family of athletes, but he was immersed in Milan‘s support from the very beginning,” says Mbappé’s mother.
“When he came home, he only talked about Milan. If Milan lost, he might throw the remote control at the TV and swear something in Italian.” Her account is supported by a famous photo of a very young Mbappé at a trial wearing the Milan jersey with number 77, the same number as Robinho: He wore it for training and even to bed,” recalls mother Fayza. “But just like many others, he had a Real Madrid, France, PSG, Manchester United jersey inspired by CR7.”
Now it’s time for Mbappé to face his “beloved” Milan on the field, and perhaps, after the match, to ask an opponent to exchange jerseys for another Rossoneri one to keep.
Why did Kylian Mbappé support Milan as a child?
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports this as well by interviewing various members of the Riccardi family, who acted as babysitters for Mbappé when he was a child. Young Kylian spent many afternoons of his childhood at the home of this family with an Italian-origin, who passed on their passion for Milan.
“Kylian told me that Milan is part of his plans, but at the end of his career,” Antonio Riccardi revealed. “He was joking, unfortunately, and then continued “I don’t want to give false hopes to Milan fans. Almost no one can afford him now.” It was the Riccardi family who gifted the young Kylian the jersey with the Robinho’s number 77.
“We gave it to him because they used to call him the little Robinho.” A confirmation of Mbappé’s passion for Milan also came last February, on the sidelines of the FIFA The Best Award in Paris. When the PSG French striker responded to a fan’s question about a possible move to Italy with a remark that sounded like a declaration of love for the Rossoneri colors: “If I come to Italy, it’s only for Milan.”
