Mbappe understands Monaco anger after big-money move to PSG

Frenchman writes to supporters of former club, whose vice-president questions loan deal.

Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - France vs Netherlands - Saint-Denis, France - August 31, 2017   France's Kylian Mbappe in action   REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Kylian Mbappe has said he understands if Monaco fans feel let down by his big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe's future was one of the stories of the summer as Europe's top clubs scrambled to sign the talented French forward.

But PSG won the race for the 18-year-old player, who has joined the club on a season-long loan deal and took part in his first training session with his new club on Monday, with the Parisians due to make the transfer permanent next summer.

They will pay Monaco £200 million (Dh950m) for Mbappe but even the astronomical fee may not ease the disappointment of his former fans.

Mbappe directed a message on Twitter to Monaco's supporters on Monday.

"I just wanted to thank you for all the love you gave me during our time together. Never have I been shown such affection, support, and strength," Mbappe wrote.

"I know that some of you do not understand my choice and that a feeling of anger is born in you, I understand.

"I also understand some whistles during our last, because false information circulated throughout the 'soap opera Mbappe'.

"I have not changed, my entourage has not changed, our values remain the same: humility, simplicity and respect.

"One thing is for sure: you can be angry, hate or even whistle but you can never stop me from loving you because the truth is there, I love you."

Mbappe was welcomed to PSG's training ground by manager Unai Emery in the afternoon before undertaking his first session with his new side, finishing off the day with a bike session in the gym with former Monaco teammate Layvin Kurzawa.

Meanwhile, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has questioned Mbappe's loan.

"We [Monaco] could not understand to the very end whether this deal was really possible as Uefa had questions to PSG about their compliance with  financial fair-play," Vasilyev told Russian news agency TASS.

"It was a very tough deal," he added. "Initially, we did not want the footballer to strengthen our opponents.

"But I think this deal appears to be the most successful one in the world of football."

Last week Europe's football ruling body Uefa opened a "formal investigation" into PSG's dealings over the transfer window.

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Uefa said it would look at whether PSG had violated the financial fair play regulations "in light of its recent transfer activity".

Uefa president Alexsander Ceferin insisted on Monday that "Nobody is above the law".

The Slovenian, speaking to the European Clubs Association in Geneva, added: "Uefa is at your side to ensure that the participants in our competitions are all treated equally.

"Financial fair play is a tremendous success because it has enabled clubs to reduce their losses drastically and adopt an economic model that is viable for the long term.

"Nevertheless, Uefa’s credibility and that of football rests on us ensuring that the rules that are in force are respected."