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Kylian Mbappé has explained for the first time why he, along with teammates Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahima Konaté, only partially wore a shirt in support of Ceuta before Real Madrid’s match against Elche. The French forward insists the gesture was not meant as a rejection of the people of Ceuta, and has expressed solidarity both with the city’s population and with the migrants who have died.
“I want to explain it properly so that people understand,” Mbappé told the newspaper AS. He explained that the initiative to wear the shirt had come from the clubs, and that the players were expected to put it on. “The first thing I want to say is that I stand in full solidarity with Ceuta and with all the victims. Because before being a player, I am a human being,” he said.
Mbappé said he had also wanted to use the gesture to remember the migrants who have died and those still in difficult situations. “I also wanted to have a gesture and a thought for all the migrants who have lost their lives and who are also living in harsh conditions,” he said.
The striker acknowledged that it was a “difficult” position, and denied that his decision meant he was against the people of Ceuta. “I have nothing against them, and I support them 100 percent — my thoughts are with them. But I also wanted to spare a thought for all the people who are suffering,” he explained.
The controversy began before Tuesday’s match, when the three players only partially put on the shirt, covering the message “We are all mackerel” — a reference to the nickname for Ceuta’s inhabitants. The slogan was completed by the phrase “Our city, our homeland.”
The initiative had been proposed by Elche, as the home side, and accepted by Real Madrid. LaLiga president Javier Tebas later criticised the three players for not wearing the shirt properly.
Mbappé insisted his intention had been to convey a broader message of solidarity. “I’m a guy who wants the best for the world we live in. I am trying to send a message of positivity and peace, and I hope this is resolved quickly,” he concluded.