The Troublesome Relationship Between Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain
Once again, the ongoing drama between Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) takes center stage. It begs the question: Is this the final season? Can this continue any longer? Will both parties finally realize that they are better off without each other?
‘Things could quickly turn bad’
Leonardo, who spent three seasons as PSG’s sporting director working with Mbappe before being sacked last summer, has finally come to a realization. He now acknowledges that Mbappe’s ego has outgrown Parc des Princes.
“For the benefit of PSG, I believe it’s time for Mbappe to leave, no matter what,” Leonardo told L’Equipe. “Paris-Saint-Germain existed before Kylian Mbappe, and it will continue to exist after him. Over the past six years that he has been in Paris, five different clubs have won the Champions League without him. That proves that winning the competition is possible without him.”
One wonders why it took Leonardo so long to accept that PSG’s constant appeasement of Mbappe effectively created a monster. Christopher Dugarry foresaw this four years ago. While others marveled at Mbappe’s extraordinary talent, Dugarry was concerned about the forward’s post-match comments after scoring a hat-trick against Club Brugge in the Champions League. Dugarry saw signs of entitlement and feared that Mbappe was on the path to becoming a prima donna at PSG.
A ‘war of egos’
Dugarry’s prediction of a “war of egos” at Parc des Princes became a reality when Mbappe clashed with Neymar, leading to a massive divide in the PSG dressing room. Their dispute even extended to a penalty kick during a match against Montpellier. Mbappe’s public frustration with the club was even more significant.
Mbappe pins UCL failure on PSG’s poor recruitment
Last summer, PSG made Mbappe the “cornerstone of the club’s project” to convince him to reject a move to Real Madrid. Yet, less than six months later, Mbappe criticized PSG for failing to sign a striker like Olivier Giroud. He has now effectively blamed the club’s poor recruitment for their Champions League shortcomings.
While PSG has made mistakes in the transfer market, Mbappe is also part of the problem. He refers to PSG as a “divisive” club, but he contributes to the division himself.
‘Mbappe is a great player – not a leader’
Mbappe has managed to escape significant scrutiny while Neymar and Lionel Messi have shouldered most of the blame for PSG’s failures in the Champions League. But his constant public grievances and flirtations with a move to Madrid have caused chaos at PSG.
Leonardo argues that Mbappe’s behavior over the past two years shows that he is not yet capable of leading a team. While he is a great player, he is not a leader, making it difficult to build a team around him.
Mbappe’s perfectionism can be problematic within a group environment, and accommodating it is necessary for the team’s success.
Mbappe: A damaging distraction
However, even Jerome Rothen, who placed blame on Messi for PSG’s underperformance, acknowledges that Mbappe’s constant airing of grievances and disruptions are a concern.
PSG must now make a decision with Arsenal interested in the French man. If Mbappe doesn’t sign a contract extension, he should be sold this summer. Losing the world’s most valuable player on a free transfer next year is unthinkable. It’s time for PSG to bring an end to this power play. They have facilitated this farce for far too long, and it’s time to prove they are a serious club.
As Paolo Di Canio rightly pointed out, “PSG put themselves in this situation by coddling him. Now, they must limit the damage and make a decision. We can judge PSG’s mistakes, but we must also acknowledge the indecency of the lad. He took advantage of the situation a year ago and is now doing the same, threatening to leave on a free transfer next year.”
The ongoing soap opera must come to an end this summer. It’s time for PSG to move on from Mbappe and rid themselves of the monster they inadvertently created.
