Once again, we find ourselves in the midst of football’s never-ending drama, featuring Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain. However, could this be the final chapter? Can this situation continue indefinitely? Will both parties eventually realize that parting ways is the best decision?
Leonardo, albeit belatedly, has finally grasped the truth. The Brazilian, who served as PSG’s sporting director for three seasons, was dismissed last summer. He now acknowledges that Mbappe’s inflated ego doesn’t align with Parc des Princes.
“In the best interest of PSG, it’s time for Mbappe to depart, regardless of the circumstances,” expressed Leonardo to L’Equipe. “Paris-Saint-Germain existed before Kylian Mbappe’s arrival and will continue to thrive after him. Throughout his six-year tenure in Paris, five different clubs have claimed victory in the Champions League (Real Madrid in 2018 and 2022, Liverpool in 2019, Bayern Munich in 2020, Chelsea in 2021, and Manchester City in 2023), none of which included Mbappe in their squads. Therefore, winning the competition without him is entirely feasible.”
The perplexing question arises: why did it take Leonardo so long to acknowledge that PSG’s compliance with almost every Mbappe demand had effectively spawned a formidable beast? Christopher Dugarry had foreseen this four years ago, making his concerns known when he stated, “‘Things could quickly turn bad.'”
Following Mbappe’s remarkable hat-trick as a substitute in PSG’s Champions League victory over Club Brugge, Dugarry’s worries deepened. While most were captivated by Mbappe’s awe-inspiring display of talent, Dugarry fixated on the forward’s post-match remarks. Mbappe made it explicit that he had desired and anticipated a starting role in the Belgian encounter. He acknowledged, “It’s the coach’s decision, and you have to accept it,” but swiftly added, “I wanted to show again that it’s hard to do without me.”
Undeniably, he proved his point, and most pundits interpreted his drive to make an impact as the characteristic attitude of a true champion—an unwavering confidence in his abilities and a steadfast belief that he should always grace the pitch.
Yet, Dugarry detected something different: an emerging sense of entitlement. He apprehended that the teenager, who once prioritized adequate rest over attending a title celebration at Monaco, risked transforming into a prima donna at PSG.
A Great Player – Not A Leader
The blame for PSG’s consecutive failures to advance beyond the Champions League last 16 has largely fallen on Neymar and Lionel Messi, and this comes as no surprise. Neymar’s persistent injury concerns have been linked to his unprofessional lifestyle, while Messi’s lack of affinity for PSG was evident as he rarely acknowledged the fans.
Consequently, Mbappe managed to evade substantial scrutiny. Jerome Rothen, who essentially made Messi the scapegoat for PSG’s consistent underperformance in Europe, argued that the local hero, Mbappe, was exempt from criticism due to his consistent on-pitch performances.
However, such an argument fails to excuse Mbappe’s immature outbursts and his constant flirtation with a move to Madrid. While Messi was criticized for allegedly using PSG as a means to prepare for the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe repeatedly created chaos at PSG by publicly expressing his grievances.
“With his conduct over the past two years, Mbappe demonstrates that he is not yet a player capable of truly leading a team,” asserted Leonardo. “He is a great player, but not a leader. Building a team around him is challenging.”
PSG finds themselves compelled to demonstrate their status as a serious club.
The focus has shifted entirely towards Mbappe’s contractual situation, overshadowing the recent appointment of Luis Enrique as the new coach. This distraction will persist until Mbappe’s future is definitively resolved.
Al-Khelaifi has rightly concluded that if Mbappe does not extend his contract, he must be sold this summer. Allowing the world’s most valuable player to depart on a free transfer next year is unthinkable. However, this decision is also about PSG finally putting an end to this incessant power struggle. PSG, in their eagerness to be regarded as a reputable club, have tolerated this charade for far too long.
As Paolo Di Canio expressed to Sky Sport Italia, “PSG has found themselves in this predicament because they pampered him. Now, they must mitigate the damage and make a choice. We can critique PSG’s mistakes, but we must also openly address the indecency of the young lad. Because that’s precisely what it is – indecency. He exploited this situation a year ago, and now he is doing the same, threatening to leave for free next year.”
The soap opera must unequivocally conclude this summer. It is time for PSG to move forward without Mbappe. They must rid themselves of the monster they themselves created.