Kylian Mbappé and his family are considering the purchase of Ligue 2 side SM Caen, potentially making him one of the first active players to own a club. The French footballer and his family are eyeing this opportunity after previous American co-owners Oaktree Capital Management withdrew their investment from the club.
SM Caen is now in need of new investors, and the Mbappé family has expressed interest, according to French news outlet Ouest France. There are also rumors that popular French rapper Orelsan could join as an investor, creating a potential superstar lineup of owners.
Oaktree had initially rescued the Ligue 2 team in 2020 when the club was on the brink of bankruptcy. However, the investment fund has since decided to pull out, leaving the club searching for new financial support.
In an interview with Ouest France, SM Caen’s co-owner, Pierre-Antoine Capton, explained the situation: “Like any investment fund, their challenge was to recover the money they had invested. Oaktree arrived at a time when the club was close to filing for bankruptcy. I did not intend to buy back 100% of the shares in Caen.”
Capton also hinted at the need for new external investment to secure the club’s future and build an ambitious project that respects the club’s identity. He said, “To find other partners to ensure the sustainability of the club and build an ambitious project, respecting the DNA of what Caen is.”
If Kylian Mbappé proceeds with this purchase, he would join a very exclusive group of footballers who have bought clubs while still playing. Last year, fellow French star N’Golo Kanté purchased Belgium’s third-division side Royal Excelsior Virton. However, Mbappé would be the first player to buy a club in one of the top five European leagues while still actively playing.
Credit: Joe
