adminPSG have reportedly called a crisis meeting amid rising tensions between star duo Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
French sports daily L’Equipe claim the pair will have a discussion ‘very soon’ to enable the players to move on from the latest saga in their decaying relationship.
Some reports initially suggested that Mbappe requested for the Brazilian to be moved on this summer with L’Equipe revealing the 23-year-old “would not have been against the idea”.
Their relationship has soured in recent times, more so since the arrival to the club of Lionel Messi last summer.
The fruitful friendship once enjoyed between the pair has now been reserved for Neymar and the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, leaving Mbappe out in the cold. Tensions rose again on Saturday night when Neymar ‘liked’ a series of tweets suggesting Mbappe’s penalty-taking duties were a part of his contractual rights.
The Brazilian is widely regarded as the club’s best penalty taker, but Mbappe was given the task of stepping up from the spot to fire Christophe Galtier’s men ahead in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Montpellier, but saw his spot kick saved.
PSG were awarded a second penalty shortly afterwards from which Neymar converted in front of the watchful Frenchman.
Mbappe was slammed by fans for throwing a strop during the game when he inexplicably stopped running during a blistering PSG counter attack which saw new signing Vitinha opt to pass to Messi instead of Mbappe who reacted by throwing his hands in the air and grinding to a halt.
The 23-year-old did finally open his account for the season in the second half with a close-range finish but his muted celebration told its own story despite team-mates gathering around him to celebrate.
Christophe Galtier’s first big job as PSG head coach will be to put an end to the saga that is bringing more unwelcome attention to the club.
Galtier will have to find a way of instilling harmony in his stars ahead of an important season for the club.
Mbappe put an end to the ongoing saga linking him with a move to Real Madrid in May, signing a new three-year deal at the Parc des Princes.
Details then emerged of the incredible lengths PSG went to in order to persuade Mbappe to continue with them until at least 2025, making him the highest-paid player in world football.
Mbappe was promised there would be a complete overhaul of the club’s management and a shift in focus from global marketing of the club’s brand to doing whatever is necessary to win the Champions League.
PSG also reportedly stressed Mbappe’s importance to French football in general, including his marketing value to grow the profile of Ligue 1 around the world and help a French club become champions of Europe. – Mailonline.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter