The “désamour” between Kylian Mbappé and sport’s clubs and why culture is as important as talent
Kylian Mbappé’s challenges at Real Madrid reveal a powerful truth: talent alone is not enough to ensure success. Whether in football or in business, without cultural alignment – shared values, team cohesion, and a clear sense of purpose – even the most gifted individuals can falter. In high-stakes environments, alignment isn’t a luxury; it’s a strategic necessity. This is more than just a story – it’s a reminder that when the right people meet the right culture, the extraordinary becomes possible.
The word “désamour” doesn’t have an exact translation in English, but it means a “falling out of love” or “disenchantment” – both expressions that evoke emotion, or rather, the loss of it.
You know what they say about the opposite of love? It’s not hatred, but indifference.
I’m not a great fan of football, to say the least, but I’ve always been fascinated by the talent of football legends like Hristo Stoichkov and Dimitar Berbatov from my native Bulgaria, both of whom were recognised in the Football Hall of Fame – with Stoichkov winning the “Ballon d’Or” and both Stoichkov and Berbatov among FIFA’s top players.
Not being a fan doesn’t mean my 12-years old son isn’t one – and a vivid one at that! So, through his passion, we often talk about sports and what true sportsmanship means. Naturally, I focus on instilling in him the sport’s values of discipline, tenacity, ethics, integrity, purpose, collaboration, affiliation, and unity.
Two days ago, PSG won the semi-final against Arsenal in the Champions League – for the first time in their history. A huge win for the French club and, of course, for my son! A win that came just months after PSG lost its star player, Mbappé, to Real Madrid – the club with a record 15 Champions League titles.
Since joining Real Madrid, Mbappé has struggled and his performance is far from the star-level statistics he posted at PSG. On top of that, he’s initiated legal proceedings against PSG for €55 million in unpaid salaries and bonuses, and has been involved in a rape investigation in Sweden. His integration at Real Madrid is still far from successful or complete.
This got me thinking: we’ve seen this story before – stars joining new global organisations and failing to deliver. John Donahoe at Nike. Werner Baumann at Bayer. Even Elon Musk, soon-to-be-replaced CEO of Tesla.
The conclusion is clear:
Culture is the cornerstone of success in any environment.
Culture is the lifeblood of an organisation, made up of the lived values of its people. Attracting top talent is only one part of the equation. Even the best past performance can lead to either outstanding success – or an epic failure.
In football, this translates into values such as strong affiliation and collaboration, learning, ambition, competitiveness, belonging, resourcefulness, results orientation, and public recognition.
So, what exactly is Mbappé’s problem? Why doesn’t he fit? Is this Real Madrid’s worst investment ever?
Physically, Mbappé is in top form – 26 years old, with a strong goal record and exceptional talent. But culturally, he’s a misfit. His reputation is shadowed by the perception of being a player who thinks only of himself.
At PSG, he was the focal point, with tactical freedom. At Real Madrid, he has entered a system-driven team with a strong identity and established stars.
Real Madrid’s culture is built on collective play, quick transitions, and positional discipline – while Mbappé is more individually expressive, preferring solo runs and direct attacks. There’s also greater expectation to contribute defensively – an area where he has traditionally been less involved.
He appears withdrawn, and his on-field chemistry is still developing. In a squad with stars like Bellingham, Vinícius Jr, and Rodrygo, his on-field authority is diluted – and that may impact his confidence.
He arrived in Madrid with massive fanfare and an equally massive salary. That only amplified expectations. And while his stats are still OK, fans expect more: not just goals, but full integration into the team’s ethos.
Real Madrid values humility and hard work – traits seen in players like Modrić, Benzema, and Kroos. Mbappé brings a completely different energy – focused on goals, image, and individuality. That contrast may be why his presence feels out of sync.
His failing to integrate is not because of a lack of skill, or even achieving too much too soon, but because of a lack of cultural match. Kylian Mbappé risks becoming a star who doesn’t quite fit.
Because success is never just about brilliance or performance metrics. It’s about belonging. It’s about alignment – with values, with people, with purpose.
Talent may fill stadiums, but only Culture builds Legacy. And when Culture is missing, even the brightest stars dim.
CLIENT-Fit, a unique assessment methodology evaluating individual alignment with organizational culture, was developed by Philippe Cavat, CEO of Alexander Hughes Human Capital, following years of collaboration with Dr. Robert Hogan, founder of Hogan Assessment Systems.
CLIENT-Fit was used by the French Government – the Élysée – and Matignon, the Île-de-France region, the City of Paris, the French Olympic Committee, and the International Olympic Committee – to support Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, in selecting the CEO of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The process began with assessing Tony Estanguet, then the top candidates (from a pool of 70), using two key criteria: compatibility with Tony in terms of values and motivations, and complementarity with him in terms of skills.
Following the assessments, Philippe Cavat led a selection committee comprising all involved French and International institutions, presenting the four best candidates.
The committee unanimously followed his recommendation to appoint Etienne Thobois, who proved both the most compatible and complementary to Tony Estanguet.
The Élysée announced his appointment as CEO the following day.
And the rest is history.
Vive la France ! Vive les Sports !
