Nasri blasts French-Cameroonian forward Kylian Mbappé over lack of independence, urges him to accept fame’s reality

Former France international Samir Nasri has delivered a stinging rebuke of Kylian Mbappé’s off-field lifestyle, warning the Real Madrid forward that global superstardom comes with obligations as well as privileges.

Nasri’s comments, made to Mundo Deportivo, follow a string of revelations about Mbappé’s private habits, including the fact that the 25-year-old has yet to obtain a driving licence.

Mbappé, born in Paris to a Cameroonian father and an Algerian mother, returned to action for Real Madrid at the weekend and marked his comeback with the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.

After a brilliant but trophyless debut season in Spain, the reigning World Cup winner is again expected to spearhead Xabi Alonso’s attack as Los Blancos chase domestic and European honours.

In a recent interview with L’Équipe Mbappé spoke candidly about the darker side of professional football and the ongoing row with PSG over unpaid salary instalments.

“I’m fatalistic about the world of football. But not about life. Life is beautiful. Football is what it is,” he said. “Honestly, if I didn’t have this passion, the world of football would have disgusted me a long time ago.”

His comments have kept scrutiny high in both France and Spain, where his off-field habits are often questioned.

His mother recently confirmed that the 26-year-old still does not have a driver’s licence, a revelation that sparked a pointed response from Samir Nasri.

“A licence is a form of independence… That means he has no private life, not even with his family. When he has to do something, he has to hire a driver,” Nasri told Mundo Deportivo.

“There are bigger stars than him who have emerged… But that’s the price of fame.”

Recalling his own youth career, Nasri added: “When I was 18, I went to buy bread. My father would drive, I would get out of the car, go into the bakery and buy bread in Marseille… You have to do that, to be connected to real life.”