9 months ago
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Kylian Mbappe is one of the best players in the world, but he used to be known as Mbappe Lottin.
The French superstar is set to end his tenure with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season and has finally agreed a deal to join Real Madrid this summer.
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The 25-year-old told PSG earlier this year that he would be leaving the French capital at the end of the year, and terms have been agreed on a deal worth £13million-per-season at the Bernabeu.
But the striker hasn't always been known as Mbappe, and his official birth name is Mbappe Lottin.
The mystery behind Mbappe's name change
Back when Mbappe was about to make his breakthrough at Monaco, the forward used both of his surnames.
The striker made his first-team debut when he was just 16 in 2015.
And his second game and Europa League debut came eight days later as Monaco were beaten 4-1 by Tottenham.
But if you look at the teamsheet for that game, you will see that Mbappe is called Mbappe Lottin.
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He was still called Mbappe Lottin during his last season with Monaco.
But by the time he joined PSG, Mbappe Lottin was no more and he was simply known as Mbappe.
The real reason why he and the rest of the family dropped the name isn't clear.
His father was once known as Mbappe Lottin but now just goes by the name Mbappe, and his younger brother Ethan is the same.
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Lottin is a second name that is very common in Cameroon, where Mbappe's father was born.
Mbappe could have represented Cameroon at international level but quickly decided to choose France and has insisted in the past that no one from the Cameroonian FA ever approached him.
So, the name drop could be related to that, or it could be because Mbappe is more marketable and easier for shirt sales and sponsorship deals.
It certainly rolls off the tongue better than Mbappe Lottin.
And Real Madrid fans across the world can look forward to the Frenchman soon holding the famous white jersey with Mbappe on the back.
