AFP, Paris :
This week has seen new doubts raised about Kylian Mbappe’s long-term future at Paris Saint-Germain, but the World Cup winner also underlined how vital he is to his club as they prepare for a make-or-break Champions League date with Borussia Dortmund.
On Tuesday, the main story in sports daily L’Equipe wondered why Mbappe – born in the French capital and brought up in the Paris suburbs – was not revered by PSG supporters in the way former stars had been.
One banner during a recent match at the Parc des Princes targeted Mbappe, Neymar and captain Thiago Silva, asking them if they were “afraid of winning” and urging them to “show some balls”.
The 21-year-old’s perceived arrogance – encapsulated by his angry response to being substituted in a recent win over Montpellier – surely does not help.
“Everyone knows he has the talent, but you are also judged on the image you give off,” former PSG player and coach Luis Fernandez told L’Equipe.
By Wednesday, the focus had switched to reports that Mbappe and the club were on a potential collision course regarding the player’s possible participation at the Olympics, for which France have qualified for the first time since 1996.
Mbappe has in the past said playing at the Games was a “boyhood dream”. However, clubs are not obliged to release players for the Olympics and PSG have reportedly written to the French Football Federation to say they would now allow him to go.
This week has seen new doubts raised about Kylian Mbappe’s long-term future at Paris Saint-Germain, but the World Cup winner also underlined how vital he is to his club as they prepare for a make-or-break Champions League date with Borussia Dortmund.
On Tuesday, the main story in sports daily L’Equipe wondered why Mbappe – born in the French capital and brought up in the Paris suburbs – was not revered by PSG supporters in the way former stars had been.
One banner during a recent match at the Parc des Princes targeted Mbappe, Neymar and captain Thiago Silva, asking them if they were “afraid of winning” and urging them to “show some balls”.
The 21-year-old’s perceived arrogance – encapsulated by his angry response to being substituted in a recent win over Montpellier – surely does not help.
“Everyone knows he has the talent, but you are also judged on the image you give off,” former PSG player and coach Luis Fernandez told L’Equipe.
By Wednesday, the focus had switched to reports that Mbappe and the club were on a potential collision course regarding the player’s possible participation at the Olympics, for which France have qualified for the first time since 1996.
Mbappe has in the past said playing at the Games was a “boyhood dream”. However, clubs are not obliged to release players for the Olympics and PSG have reportedly written to the French Football Federation to say they would now allow him to go.
