Two days after a fifth defeat in eight days against Lorient (1-2), Saturday October 5, Yann M’Vila almost ” Cancel “ his coming. Despite SM Caen’s disappointing start to the season and a weekend to rehash, the midfielder was indeed the guest of our podcast Red and Blue at the Stade Malherbe, Monday October 7. By playing 90 minutes in the last seven matches, the former international was one of the rare Norman players to hold his position.
Yann, you discovered Ligue 2 this summer at 34 years old. Was evolving at this level an obstacle before committing?
This was a brake until the call from Kylian (Mbappé, majority shareholder of SM Caen since this summer).
Was there football on the phone?
This call took place four days before my signing, in the company of his mother. He told me about the project, about what he expected of me. The next day, I saw his mother and we agreed. Kylian knows me very well, I know him very well too. His mother will know me more about the human side, him more about football. They know that I am a reliable player, that they can count on me to give my all.
“The CPE went to see Kylian’s mother to tell her: “These people are doing some stupid things”
Fayza Lamari, Kylian Mbappé’s mother, is someone you have known since your teenage years in Rennes.
Every term, there was a parent-teacher meeting. We had an old-fashioned CPE, quite strict. When you are one of the best players at the training center, you tell yourself that you can put school aside. This is a serious mistake. This CPE went to see Kylian’s mother to tell her: “these people are doing some stupid things”. She sometimes came to talk to me. He is a very frank person, who will tell you things and who loves a lot if you give it to him. This is also why I accepted this project directly. For me, it’s an exciting challenge. They found out about me, saw that I played 140 matches in three seasons at Olympiakos (2020-2023). When I arrived, I read a lot of things about how old I am. But when you want it in the head, nothing can stop you. I’ve always worked like that.
Does this relate in particular to your childhood?
At 9 years old, I was spotted in the parking lot of a circus by Amiens SC. I did a test and it was conclusive. I was living in a hostel at the time. In a home for women victims of violence, with my mother. You cannot know the solidarity there is between these women who are going through the same hell. I experienced it and that’s how I also learned to be supportive of others. Despite the sadness that we had with my brothers and sisters, we had very good times because we were all together. SO…
