Pascal Ferré, who ran the Ballon d’Or during his years as France Football’s director, has told Marca he would not vote for Kylian Mbappé at this month’s ceremony. The verdict landed 18 days before the trophy is handed out at the London Palladium.
“Honestly, I think Kylian’s campaign is massive compared to Lamine’s,” Ferré said in the interview.
“For me, you don’t ask for a Ballon d’Or. You earn it.”
The forward scored 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid last season and added 10 at the World Cup, but Madrid finished the campaign without a major prize while Barcelona took La Liga and Spain lifted the World Cup trophy.
Read also: Tchouaméni admits he played the World Cup injured
“It seems strange to me to be the best player in the world without winning anything,” Ferré said.
Lamine Yamal was in both of those title-winning sides.
“Among the 30 nominees, he was one of the few who didn’t win a trophy with his club.”
An envelope on the table
Ferré rejected the idea that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez had leaned on him during his years running the award.
Read also: Argentina have made their Messi No.10 decision – FIFA has other ideas
“Pérez likes the award, but he never sent me a message or hinted at anything indirectly,” he said.
Ferré also disclosed that an unnamed agent had approached him on behalf of a nominated player while he was in office.
“I stood up from the table to answer a phone call, and when I returned, there was an envelope on the table,” he told Marca.
He said he picked up the envelope, left it at reception without opening it, and has not spoken to the agent since. The claims appear in his new book, “The Hidden Face of the Ballon d’Or”.
Read also: ‘What’s the point?’: Max Verstappen delivers brutal Ferrari verdict
Mbappé third in the market
Harry Kane sits on top of the market at -170 after a 61-goal club season for Bayern Munich, with Yamal second at +350. Mbappé is the third choice at +700.
The ceremony is on Monday 26 October at the London Palladium.
Read also: Jake Paul lists more than a dozen fights he wants after the Joshua KO
