Shenzhen: French World Cup-winner Kylian Mbappe urged troubled Brazilian Neymar to stay at Paris Saint-Germain yesterday as he apologised for sparking speculation about his own future at the club.
Mbappe, speaking before the Champions Trophy against Rennes in Shenzhen, China, said Neymar was a key player for the French league-winners who are desperate for success in Europe next season.
“Everyone loves him and I love him so much,” Mbappe said of Neymar, who has been linked with a return to his former club Barcelona.
“I don’t want him to leave the team, obviously. I want him to stay. When you think about his situation and then he plays very well and he co-operates with the team you can see what he means to us.”
The 20-year-old Mbappe, who smashed 33 goals for PSG last season, also doused any lingering concerns over his own plans after he talked about playing “elsewhere” at the French league awards ceremony in May.
“I think it wasn’t the right place (to say that),” he said in southern Chinese city. “I’d like to say sorry to the players who were there, because I spoiled the party.”
It has been a troubled few months for Neymar, who earned a three-match ban after an altercation with a fan as Rennes stunned PSG on penalties to win the French Cup in April.
Neymar also missed Brazil’s triumphant Copa America campaign on home soil after suffering an ankle injury in a warm-up friendly against Qatar.
“He is still the same Neymar,” said Mbappe of his team-mate, who trained with the rest of the squad yesterday.
“We all know he is in very special circumstances. However he is training with us and he is still performing his best which is not unusual and after all he is a very good player.”