Orelsan’s Critique of Mbappe Sparks Controversy Among Caen Fans

In the track titled ‘La petite voix’, which translates to ‘The Little Voice’, the French artist Orelsan has criticized Kylian Mbappe’s role as the majority owner of Caen, a position he assumed following his takeover of the club in 2024.

In one of the verses, Orelsan, who hails from Caen, sings: “You’re going to sink your city like the Mbappes.” This song is part of his latest album, ‘La fuite en avant’, meaning ‘The Headlong Rush’ in English.

Mbappe responded to Orelsan’s comments on social media platform X, accusing the artist of attempting to secure a free stake in the club, stating: “You’re welcome to come and save the city you love so much.

“PS: The guy kept begging us to get in with 1% without paying because he doesn’t have a penny but wanted to look like the little guy from Normandy.”

However, this retort has drawn criticism from Caen supporters, who have been protesting against Mbappe’s ownership of the club. Following Mbappe’s post, one Caen fan, Sebastien, expressed his dismay to RMC Sport, saying, “We’re stunned, like everyone else. It’s sad.

“Orelsan is a huge celebrity in Caen. Kylian Mbappe has made a massive blunder that will tarnish his image. If he thinks he can turn the Caen fans against Orelsan, he’s going to have a very hard time; Orelsan is an idol. The song is a parody. Responding at face value is risky.”

Former Caen defender Brahim Thiam also weighed in, stating that Mbappe’s response was misplaced, as the song is not aimed directly at him, despite the reference to his name.

On X, Thiam remarked, “The punchline comes from an Orelsan song title that talks about his evil twin, a little voice that criticizes everything and everyone, even his family, his buddies, and his wife – it’s not a personal matter, lol…

“It’s a shame to expose the club through this kind of post.”

In July 2024, Mbappe became one of Europe’s youngest football club owners by acquiring an 80 percent stake in Caen through his firm, Coalition Capital, investing approximately £17.5 million (€20 million/$23 million). However, what started as a symbolic return to the club that nearly signed him as a youth has rapidly soured.

By April 2025, Caen faced a significant downturn, as a 3-0 defeat against Martigues confirmed their relegation from Ligue 2, marking their descent into France’s third division for the first time in 41 years. This prompted fans to storm the pitch in protest, displaying a banner that read: “Mbappe, SMC is not your toy.”

Following the relegation, sixteen staff members were laid off amid a controversial restructuring, leading to further backlash against Mbappe.

Christophe Vaucelle, head of the Malherbe Normandy Kop, encapsulated local sentiment by stating, “The Mbappe clan bears some responsibility. They arrived, stayed invisible, and disconnected from the fans. The situation is catastrophic.”

Currently, Caen sits at 10th place in France’s third tier, having secured only three wins from their thirteen league matches this season, alongside seven draws and three losses under manager Maxime d’Ornano.

Despite the turmoil off the pitch, Mbappe has excelled for Real Madrid in the 2025-26 season. The No. 7 has netted 18 goals in 15 matches across all competitions, contributing to his team’s position at the top of La Liga and seventh in the Champions League standings.

Real Madrid is looking to recover from a recent 1-0 loss against Liverpool in the Champions League when they face Rayo Vallecano in the league this Sunday afternoon. Rayo Vallecano currently occupies the 10th spot in the Spanish top flight, having amassed 14 points from their eleven matches this season.