The well-placed media briefing: classic. Refusing to turn up for pre-season training: an old favourite. Few players, however, have gone to the trouble of commissioning a 220-page graphic novel purely for the purpose of earning a move to Real Madrid.
One didn’t need to a be a literature scholar to glimpse the subtext of “Je M’Appelle Kylian”, the comic-book autobiography released by Kylian Mbappé in November in collaboration with the illustrator Faro. The young Mbappé makes no secret of his desire to play for Real Madrid when he is older, to the point where in one early passage he is even visited in a dream by Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane. In the dream Ronaldo and Mbappé do keepie-uppies while Zidane hands him a freshly-laundered white Madrid kit. Later Mbappé is invited to Madrid for real, an experience he describes as “the best of his life”.
Later still Mbappé is at Monaco when Paris SaintGermain come in with a bid. “Are you sure about your choice?” Mbappé’s mother asks him. “You know that Madrid still want to sign you. You’re not going to get bored in Ligue 1?” At which point Mbappé’s representatives inform them they are close to an agreement with PSG that will see Mbappé earning €18 m a year plus bonuses. “Ummm, that’s not bad,” Mbappé grimaces, with a grudging acceptance that the wheels of this transfer had been irrevocably set in motion.
I mean, as graphic metaphor goes, Maus this is not.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin January 11, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin January 11, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Saka strike fires up Arsenal title charge despite late Spurs surge
Everybody knew the backstory, how Arsenal had won their previous Premier League title almost 20 years ago to the day at White Hart Lane.
Soaring Cherries leave De Zerbi soul searching
There were a few eyebrows raised when the Bournemouth owner, Bill Foley, said in December he was confident the club could qualify for Europe within five years but that prediction does not look at all outlandish now.
Alcaraz motors through in Madrid after passing 'litmus test' against Seyboth Wild
Carlos Alcaraz says he is feeling \"spectacular\" after taking another significant stride in his recovery from injury by reaching the fourth round of the Madrid Open with an efficient 6-3, 6-3 win over Thiago Seyboth Wild.
Discipline only concern for dynamic England
Red Roses proved sky is the limit with Six Nations success but keeping 15 players on the field will be key at World Cup
At a crossroads PGA Tour cannot afford to omit McIlroy from its policy board
The most unpalatable and unlikely scenario could be a necessary one.
Spending PM's shift in priorities is bad news for councils
Talking tough on \"sicknote culture\" and stopping the boats, and offering billions of pounds extra for defence spending.
Union appears to accept end of full Saturday postal service
Letterboxes could fall silent on Saturday mornings, after the postal workers' union appeared to accept a proposal from Royal Mail that would abandon its duty to deliver all letters six days a week.
Sanitary sexism Woman caught short wins battle for ladies' loos in Amsterdam
The need kicked in as Geerte Piening was on her way home from the bar one night in 2015.
Australian government urged to act over violence against women
An urgent cabinet meeting on men's violence against women in Australia will be convened for Wednesday, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, saying all governments nationwide - including his own at the federal level-must make changes and focus more on stopping perpetrators.
Spanish opposition accuse Sánchez of melodrama as PM decides on his future
Spanish opposition parties have stepped up their attacks on the socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as he prepares to announce whether he will resign because of what he describes as a \"harassment and bullying operation\" being waged against him and his wife by his political and media enemies.