Fayza Lamari, mother of Kylian Mbappé, has instituted a strict ban on mobile phones at French football club SM Caen’s youth training center, according to statements made by the club’s director of football, Mathieu Bodmer. The policy change aims to foster interpersonal communication and camaraderie among academy prospects at the Normandy club, where Mbappé became majority shareholder in the summer of 2024.
Inside the Mobile Phone Ban at Caen’s Academy
The operational shift within the French club’s youth setup was revealed by Bodmer during an interview with the French sports daily L’Équipe. Bodmer, who recently returned to Caen as director of football, detailed the structural changes being implemented alongside club vice-president and technical director Nasser Larguet to overhaul the development pathway for rising prospects.
“His project with the young players interests me. If you saw everything being done in schooling, accommodation, nutrition, and human support… Fayza has banned mobile phones in the training center,” Bodmer told L’Équipe. “It’s a formidable decision because the kids are talking to each other again and living together.”
The restriction on electronic devices inside the residential academy is designed to curb isolation, build stronger team chemistry, and sharpen the focus of players navigating critical years of athletic development.
Management and Ownership Realities in Normandy
While Kylian Mbappé holds majority ownership of the club following an acquisition in 2024, day-to-day operations and developmental oversight rely heavily on family representation and veteran football administrators. Bodmer noted that he has not yet held direct conversations with the Real Madrid star, emphasizing that the player’s primary focus remains his active professional career on the pitch in Spain.
“The day we need to talk, it will come naturally. He has a career to manage. My greatest satisfaction would be to be able to tell him: ‘Don’t worry about us, we’ll take care of everything,'” Bodmer stated to L’Équipe.
The leadership transition has faced scrutiny following Caen’s sporting difficulties, which included relegation from Ligue 2 to the third tier of French football. However, Bodmer defended the ownership group against external criticism, arguing that many of the institution’s structural hurdles predated the family’s financial takeover.
“I don’t say this because Kylian is the owner of the club. I think these criticisms are not fair. Many of the problems already existed before his arrival. It’s true that mistakes have been made, as happens in any entity, and we will make others this season,” Bodmer explained.
Financial Commitment and Next Steps
Bodmer also praised the capital investment made by the Mbappé family to secure control of the club during a delicate institutional period, expressing confidence in the long-term project underway in Normandy. The focus remains on stabilizing the sporting infrastructure while continuing youth development initiatives led by figures like Lamari and Larguet.
