Kylian Mbappe And His PSG Exit Dilemma
Kylian Mbappe had recently committed to a long-term future with the French giants but has steadily been linked with Manchester United, Manchester City, and Real Madrid. Paris Saint Germain is getting stronger and offers the Frenchman everything he ever wanted and needed to thrive at the club. Why he wants out of the club remains a mystery.
“Leaving my country like that, there is this sentimental side, The project has changed. The club has changed a lot of things sportingly and I think my story is not over.”
Those were the words of the French forward after long-term speculation of his arrival at Real Madrid before a dramatic turn to remain at the French capital.
Mbappe features in a team consisting of football’s greatest in several positions and looks to dominate all competition across Europe this season. However, multiple altercations among the squad’s stars hinder their cohesion.
There has been heavy speculation around the rift between Kylian Mbappe and Neymar but their manager Christopher Gatlier has come out publicly to address the rift.
Since then, not much has been said by Gatlier, Mbappe himself, or anyone else in the squad, but nothing has been resolved either. There are now increasing concerns over the 23-year-old’s future with speculation continuing to swirl that a departure is a strong possibility.
The Frenchman has enjoyed his stride since he burst on the scene in the French topflight even during times when his teammates were nowhere near his level, but there is a growing sense that those days have been left behind.
PSG boast one of the strongest rosters in the world, and even stronger since their new head coach, Christopher Gatlier took over. If reports at the time were to be believed, Mbappe initially plotted an escape from PSG to play at the top level of the European game.
Under Mauricio Pochettino, though, they have qualified for the Champions League in back-to-back seasons. Their performances went under the radar and were subject to criticism, exposing the naivety of the Argentine coach.
What Does Mbappe Really Want?
Manchester City and Real Madrid have been most strongly linked with a move for Kylian Mbappe, but is either club in a better place than PSG is right now? At Manchester City, Mbappe would be joining a club that is seriously in a quest to claim Champions League glory while Real Madrid and Manchester United are in the midst of a generational transition.
A switch to the either side would see the Frenchman concede his peak years to being part of a rebuilding job as the ideal replacement for the aging Karim Benzema.
When PSG paid a then-world record fee to sign Mbappe, they did so because they believed a team could be built around the Frenchman. Mbappe is a difference-maker who can truly flourish in a well-built structure. Behind the ball, he needs someone to do a lot of the dirty work and ahead of the ball, he demands pampering.
They appear to be a continuous misunderstanding in their team and the role Mbappe can play, much to his displeasure, as he publicly slammed back stating his preference for the French national team style of playing with Olivier Giroud.
A host of other reasons asides from the spotlight taken from him at the helm by Neymar and Lionel Messi could also spring up. It may be traced down to the need to win football’s most important individual trophy the Ballon d’Or.
Erling Haaland is his closest rival and the Norwegian has taken the premier league by storm scoring over 15 goals. Mbappe’s 22/23 tally also isn’t bad despite his other teammate’s clutch form. The actual reason for Mbappe’s on-and-off-the-field drama or his will to leave remains uncertain. However, his sporting director has once again come out to disclaim the rumors.
PSG director Luís Campos: “Mbappé has never told me about his intention to leave in January. We speak with him, Messi, Ney… we’re very happy to be here”.
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