Kylian Mbappe, the star striker of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), has faced a backlash from his teammates after he criticized the club in an interview with France Football magazine. According to RMC Sport, six PSG players have contacted the president of the club, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, to complain about Mbappe's comments, which they perceived as disrespectful and divisive¹.
In the interview, Mbappe said that PSG was a "divisive team" and that ‘playing in Paris does not help much’ which attracted gossip, and that leaving the club would help him achieve his goal of winning the Champions League. The forward also questioned the management and organization of the club, saying that PSG was a ‘divided club’.
Mbappe’s decision to criticize the club in public was not appreciated by his fellow players, who felt that he was undermining the unity and harmony of the team. Some of them also accused him of being selfish and arrogant, and of not working hard enough on the pitch.
Six players, including two new recruits, transferred their statements from Mbappé to Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. One of the messages read: 'This is an insult to the club' and Mbappe’s statements shocked the president of the capital club, who saw them as having a lack of respect for all present players.
Mbappe's relationship with PSG has been strained for a while, as he has expressed his frustration and ambition several times. The talented forward currently has a decision to make as these words have added fuel to the fire and the club has given him a deadline of July 31 to sign a new contract until 2025, or be sold to the highest bidder this summer. PSG also believe Mbappe wants to join Real Madrid on a free next summer which would be detrimental for the Parisians.
