Kylian Mbappe completed his long-anticipated move to Real Madrid ahead of the 2024–25 season. But contrary to expectations, Paris Saint-Germain seemed to improve in his absence. After lifting the Champions League trophy, one French legend made his opinion clear: “PSG would have won the UEFA Champions League if he had stayed.”
Mbappe’s turbulent departure led to legal disputes between both sides. But in the end, PSG celebrated a historic European title after defeating Inter Milan in the final. As Mbappe continues to chase the one major trophy missing from his resume, many fans have pointed to the timing of his decision to leave Paris.
Speaking to reporters during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, French legend Claude Makelele shared his thoughts on what could have been: “PSG would have won the Champions League if Mbappe had stayed. You can’t say no to Real Madrid, and that’s why he ended up leaving.”
Despite tensions with manager Luis Enrique—who had doubts about Mbappe’s fit as a striker due to his lack of defensive effort—Makelele believes PSG would have triumphed even with the star in the lineup. The former midfielder also issued a word of caution for PSG as they prepare to face Real Madrid.
“PSG have had a great season, and if you look at what they’ve done, they were the best in the Champions League and deserved the title. They’re still playing well, but watch out for Real Madrid—when it comes down to a single match, they’re capable of anything,” he warned.
see also
UEFA imposes fines on Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger after Champions League controversy
Makelele on Real Madrid’s rebuild under Xabi Alonso
After a successful run under Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid fell short of expectations during the 2024–25 campaign, prompting the Italian coach’s departure. Now, Xabi Alonso has taken the reins in what the club hopes will be a new winning era—and Makelele is backing the project.
“The team is definitely improving, and over time, we’ll see even more,” he said. “But coaching isn’t a one-, two-, or three-month job. It takes one or two years. Now is the time to let him work and shape the team. Eventually, we’ll see the progress—or at least the style he wants to establish. We all know how demanding Real Madrid is and how tough it can be to get that time.”
Makelele also reflected on the club’s constant search for new stars and the changing role of midfielders in the modern game: “We’re always chasing the next Galácticos. Those were amazing players—we’re always looking for the next Zidane, Ronaldo, Raúl… or even the next Makelele,” he joked.
“But today, we need a new kind of Galáctico. Midfielders don’t need to be another Makelele—they need to be themselves. People used to only talk about strikers, but without midfielders, there’s no game,” the French legend concluded.
