Robin Bairner
Kylian Mbappe, Witch Doctor, Real Madrid, 2024/25
© IMAGO
Kylian Mbappe’s wretched start to his Real Madrid career can be explained by the fact that he has been cursed by a witch doctor, according to former Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea star Emmanuel Petit.
Mbappe is going through a turbulent period on and off the field currently, with the France international hitting a low point on Wednesday when he turned in a horrible display as Real Madrid were defeated 2-0 in the Champions League by Liverpool.
The 25-year-old faces criticism from all sides, and while he is being backed by head coach Carlo Ancelotti to bounce back, Petit, who scored as France beat Brazil 3-0 in 1998 World Cup final, believes there are dark forces at work.
“I really think he was cursed by a witch doctor,” he told RMC Sport to the obvious amusement of his colleagues, who sat in stunned silence for a beat.
“You’re joking!” Daniel Riolo, who has been scathing of Mbappe in the past, replied.
But Petit was being serious.
“I believe in these things, you don’t believe in them,” he continued. “I believe in it. There are quite a few things that I believe in. Westerners don’t believe in it. It’s not in their culture, we’re very Cartesian. I believe in it.”
Mbappe has been under fire in Spain
© IMAGO - Mbappe has been under fire in Spain
Did Paul Pogba curse Mbappe?
Petit was asked who had cursed Mbappe and broached the subject of Paul Pogba, who is currently serving a ban from football relating to taking a performance enhancing drug.
“Pogba? I don’t know, everyone tells me that,” he said. “When you speak to me about Mbappe, I always have this impression in my head, that if a voice comes from the Moon, there are several billion of us here on earth. And at this moment, it’s Mbappe who’s taking it.”
Petit’s colleagues were looking at him puzzled during this last statement and simply replied: “Okay.”
Mbappe will be back in action for Real Madrid on Sunday, when they host Getafe in LaLiga.