Kylian Mbappe’s mark on the pitch is becoming increasingly overshadowed by the image of a “bad kid” at PSG.
When PSG renewed Mbappe’s contract, there were rumors that the French team had given the striker the same power as a club’s sporting director. Insiders deny this, but the behind-the-scenes scandals surrounding Mbappe’s claim to the team appear with a dense frequency.
Most recently, the French media simultaneously reported that Mbappe asked to leave PSG because he felt “betrayed” when his demands – related to the club’s strategy – were not met. This information appeared just a few hours before PSG played to face Benfica in the Champions League.
Mbappe is a factor creating “underground waves” within PSG.
Prophecy come true
“I am afraid he will be disillusioned. I have a feeling things are going to be bad for him,” former French player Christophe Dugarry said of Kylian Mbappe three years ago.
It was at that time that the striker had just scored a hat-trick against Club Brugge to become the youngest player in history to reach 15 goals in the Champions League. What caught Dugarry’s attention was not Mbappe’s performance but a statement from this young talent after the game about his having to sit on the bench.
“It’s the head coach’s decision and I have to accept it. But, I want to show again that without me, the team would be in trouble,” Mbappe said in an interview.
Mbappe’s words express the desire, confidence and personality of a star – a World Cup champion. However, Dugarry saw signs of a potential danger from the attitude of his juniors.
The former French player thinks that “underground waves” may arise at PSG if Mbappe’s promotion is not controlled. After 3 years, Dugarry’s prediction came true. Mbappe’s arrogance is at the heart of the growing troubles at the Parc des Princes.
Mbappe is fully aware of himself as a big and influential player. On the field, the 23-year-old star still has excellent performances if only considering the mere technical factor. Last season, when Neymar was not in good form and Messi had not yet adapted, Mbappe was the leader of the Parc des Princes team.
However, this season, when the PSG star lineup becomes more stable, it is Mbappe who is a potential factor in the risk of triggering instability.
PSG spoil Mbappe
Mbappe wants to leave PSG because he wants to play football the way he wants. Specifically, the 23-year-old striker does not like to play in the key striker position like the layout of head coach Christopher Galtier. According to RMC, when negotiating a contract extension with PSG, Mbappe asked the team to buy a striker in the “Number 9” model.
Coach Christopher Galtier also admitted that before the season, he spoke with the president, CEO and even Mbappe about adding a striker. PSG did not make any such deals during the transfer window and now that is said to be one of the reasons why the young star of the Parc des Princes wants to leave.
Mbappe considers himself bigger than the club.
Mr. Galtier is probably also tired of constantly having to answer questions from the press about Mbappe’s attitude and actions. Quenching the noise around this player, and from his own creation, is not easy. Mbappe’s every move is now seen as a sign of internal instability at PSG.
Mbappe is gradually turning himself into an arrogant image, considering himself bigger than the club. But, it’s not entirely the player’s fault. It was the pampering and effort to keep Mbappe in front of Real Madrid’s tug that stimulated the French striker’s personality to develop in an unexpected direction.
PSG put Mbappe in a high position and the 23-year-old star wants to be seen by the rest of the members. However, the maturity of the striker’s personality is not enough to win that. On the other hand, in the PSG squad there are still monuments – Lionel Messi, Neymar or even Sergio Ramos.
According to French media, Mbappe once asked the PSG board to push away 14 members of the club, including Neymar and former coach Mauricio Pochettino (then still in place). Goal’s source said Mbappe and Neymar are in a state of equality but not content.
Mbappe and Neymar have a conflict.
The tension between these two players appeared openly in the match against Montpellier. Neymar refused to give the penalty to Mbappe – who had missed once before. PSG immediately had to meet the team to resolve internally.
The irony is that Mbappe creates the feeling that he is becoming more and more like Neymar (being “Neymarized” as the former French player Emmanuel Petit calls him) so that now Mbappe’s No. 10 is jealous of himself. comrades who were once close friends.
On the field, Mbappe continues to improve. However, the mark of this striker’s ability is gradually being overshadowed by the outliers. People refer to Mbappe as a spoiled child more than how good he plays football.