Kylian Mbappe persuaded his mother Fayza Lamari not to abandon Caen project after relegation from Ligue 2 despite her telling Real Madrid superstar 'they didn't deserve us'

Mbappe and his family splashed out approximately €20 million (£17m/$22m) to secure 80 per cent of the shares in Ligue 2 side Caen last summer. However, it's been a difficult campaign for the club who have gone through three managers and still managed to finish bottom of Ligue 2, with just 21 points from 32 games.

Caen fans have hit out at Mbappe during the campaign. Banners insulting his mother have been displayed which led club president Ziad Hammoud to leap to the Real Madrid star's defence. Mbappe's mother has now revealed she has had thoughts about walking away from the club but her famous son has convinced her to stay involved.

She told Ici Normandie: "I remember humbly telling Kylian that they (Caen) didn’t deserve us and that we had to know when to leave when we weren’t wanted. He didn’t want [to leave]. He convinced me otherwise."

Lamari added: "And today, it would be dishonest for us to leave. The objective is to tell ourselves that we are making a societal project of it."

Mbappe and family will have to watch Caen compete in the National 1, the third tier of French football, next season. It's the first time in 41 years Caen have played in the French third tier.