A former Paris Saint-Germain star has accused Kylian Mbappe of wanting to be "the boss" at the club.
When Kylian Mbappe signed a new contract at PSG in May 2022, it was reported that the deal came with a number of promises to the player, including more power in the dressing room and an influence on decisions made by management.
Read: JUST IN: Rooney's new job confirmed!
It appears it did not take long before he exercised his powers; after rumours suggesting that he wanted Neymar out of the team, an on-field squabble with the Brazilian over a penalty made matters more apparent.
Then-manager Christophe Galtier later insisted Mbappe was the designated penalty-taker despite Neymar converting from the spot during the incident in question, and it is believed there was a lot of tension between them for several weeks after that, but they would later be cordial with each other.
Messi, meanwhile, seemed to have a professional relationship with the France international, but following his 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph over Les Bleus with Argentina in December, PSG were reluctant to honour his success partly out of respect to Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final against the Albiceleste and was later mocked by some of the South American nation's players.
With both the Argentine and the Brazilian having since departed and Les Parisiens having had a stuttering start to the 2023/24 campaign, retired midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo, who made 43 appearances for PSG, has now insisted that Mbappe is more exposed now that Messi and Neymar are gone.
"He wanted to be the boss of PSG, he's the boss," the 18-time France international told La Chaine L’Equipe.
"He has some responsibility for the departures of Neymar and Messi, he is free from all that, he is the boss of this team.
"Wasn't he ultimately better off with the other two on the pitch to give him the assists? In the last matches, someone is missing in the middle to create the game so it goes down too much.
"Who can bring the danger elsewhere to create a diversion, who will allow him to find depth? He is more exposed now. It was easier to play with Neymar and Messi.
"Now he's the boss of PSG. Before, he shared it with two other players who also did a lot of stupid things so Mbappe was guilty about his life on the side, now he is more exposed.
"Is he capable of carrying this team? I have a little doubt. In the French team for example, he is captain, was that useful? I don't know if he needed all that."
Read: ‘I’m knowledgeable whether people like it or not’
PSG are currently third in Ligue 1 after eight matches played this season.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH:
