2023-07-10
The Brazilian Leonardo Nascimento de Araújo, former sports director of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), believes that “for the good” of the club, “the time has come for (Kylian) Mbappé to leave.”
“It doesn’t matter how,” he added in statements to the French newspaper L’Équipe from Milan, where he currently resides.
The one who was also a footballer and coach – fired from the position of sports director in May 2021 in a context of tension in relations with the French star striker – also pointed out that PSG “existed before Kylian Mbappé and will exist after him”.
“He has been in Paris for six years and in those six seasons, five different clubs have won the Champions League. None had Mbappé in their ranks. This means that it is totally possible to win this competition without him”, remarked the Brazilian.
In addition, he added that “with his behavior in the last two years, Mbappé has shown that he is still not a player capable of really leading a team.”
“He is a great player, not a leader. He is a great scorer, not a creative. It is difficult to build a team around him”, said Leonardo, who was in charge of making the PSG squad between 2011 and 2013 and from 2019 to 2021.
The relationship between PSG and Mbappé has been going through critical hours since it emerged that the 24-year-old player had confirmed to the club his intention not to renew his contract next year.
The striker, however, has stressed his intention to continue wearing the blue shirt next season.
The club’s board of directors, however, flatly rejects this option, which would imply a free exit for its great star.
“We cannot let the best player in the world go for free,” PSG president Nasser al Khelaifi said last Wednesday during the presentation of Luis Enrique as the team’s new coach.
2023-07-10 15:50:00
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