Kylian Mbappé expressed his joy at witnessing his old club, Paris Saint-Germain, clinch the Champions League title for the first time, even though he departed under controversial circumstances a year ago to join Real Madrid.

Last weekend, PSG showcased their strength by defeating Inter Milan 5-0, claiming Europe’s premier club competition after narrowly missing out in the 2020 final against Bayern Munich.

“I was overjoyed; they truly deserved it. They have faced many obstacles, and I can empathize with that. I have gone through every stage of the Champions League except for winning it,” Mbappé told reporters on Saturday.

“They were certainly the best team in Europe. I can’t remember ever seeing them lead by 5-0. It’s entirely deserved; they are becoming the team that everyone wants to beat.

Mbappé departed from PSG without a transfer fee last year, making history as the club’s all-time leading scorer. However, the 26-year-old is now pursuing legal action against his former team for €55 million ($62.67m) due to unpaid wages.

During his time at Real Madrid, Mbappé netted 43 goals across all competitions, yet the team fell short of securing any major titles. They finished as runners-up in both LaLiga and the Copa del Rey to Barcelona and were eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal.

The French forward shared his thoughts on his former team’s recent success, stating, “PSG won the Champions League without me, and that doesn’t bother me. It’s a positive outcome for the club, and I’m genuinely happy for my former teammates who achieved a goal they had long desired.”

Mbappe stated that dealing with pressure can be a good experience for him. He has consistently excelled in high-pressure scenarios; I’ve carried many burdens on my shoulders, but I’ve successfully overcome them.

Throughout my career, I’ve grown and evolved, shedding burdens that no longer served me.” When reflecting on his departure, he expressed, “Did I leave too early? Not at all; I felt my time there had come to a natural conclusion, and it was an opportunity for me to move forward. There are no hard feelings; I reached a pivotal point in my journey.”

Mbappé also indicated that he would cast his vote for PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé rather than Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d’Or, awarded to the best player of the year.

Dembele recorded 33 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions, contributing to PSG’s Ligue 1 title and French Cup victory, winning an unprecedented treble.