Kylian Mbappe has claimed he is allowed to play with “much more freedom” with France than with Paris Saint-Germain after netting in their Nations League win over Austria.
The striker opened the scoring in France’s two-goal victory on Thursday night to move them off the foot of the group standings. His strike partner Olivier Giroud doubled the lead in what was ultimately a routine, but significant, victory for Didier Deschamps’s side.
Mbappe’s comments are the latest indication that the striker is somewhat unsettled in Paris and comes after his falling out with Neymar over the order of penalty takers in the team during the Ligue 1 clash against Montpellier last month. Former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos was reportedly forced to step in to separate the feuding pair in the dressing room after that incident.
PSG boss Christophe Galtier moved to tackle the issue head-on by staging a first-team meeting in which the two were rebuked and apologised, while Lionel Messi acted as a ‘mediator’ to help quell the ongoing discontent between the pair.
The fallout did not stop there, as Neymar went on to 'like' two social posts that slammed Mbappe over the episode, including a post that said the Frenchman “controlled” the club. That comment was within the context of reports claiming that Mbappe would hold great sway in the club's sporting decisions as part of his new three-year contract extension with the Ligue 1 champions.
The 23-year-old’s form has not dipped for his club this season as he has bagged an impressive 10 goals through his opening nine matches of the campaign and will be aiming to beat his season-record goal tally of 42. However, his comments after representing his nation suggest that he does not feel entirely comfortable with his PSG role.
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Mbappe told reporters after the victory over Austria: "How they ask me to play here is different. With France, I have much more freedom than at PSG. The coach knows that there is a '9' like Giroud and I can move and go to the space that creates. In Paris it is different, they ask me to play pivot." The striker was then asked if he enjoyed playing with the national team, to which he replied: “Of course. I enjoy myself everywhere.”
Mbappe also addressed the issue of his image rights after the striker refused to take part in a photoshoot with the national team. "Yes, the whole group is happy,” he added. “It wasn't me who agreed, the whole team wanted that. I don't mind being in front of the stage if it's beneficial for my teammates. Being criticized won't change the way I play and live."
Mbappe is said to have felt uncomfortable being used to promote such products, and also supposedly believes that the individual images of certain player are being portrayed differently by the national team with some being used more than others. Other players in the France squad are withdrawn from the process and claim they would like to have a say in the brands with which internationals are associated.
