
<p>The mayor of Paris has issued some harsh words towards <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> officials in their handling of Kylian Mbappe. The France international looks likely to leave the <a href="https://www.worldsoccertalk.com/ligue-un-tv-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ligue 1</a> outfit this summer after a standoff with club execs. He is set to enter the final year under contract with PSG after signing a two-year deal last summer.</p>



<p>Mayor Anne Hidalgo questioned what the Parisian club was doing and hoped that Mbappe would somehow remain in France. “I don’t understand what PSG [is] playing at,” Hidalgo stated in an interview with <em><a href="https://twitter.com/RMCsport/status/1683735601747578880" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RMC Sport</a></em>. “Kylian Mbappé is the best player in the world. I’ll admit that I don’t understand it at all.”</p>



<p>“Kylian is an extraordinary player and we have to keep him in Paris,” the mayor continued. “I think it’s also his wish to remain here as long as possible. The question is: what [is] PSG doing?”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🎙 Anne Hidalgo invitée de RMC et BFMTV : "Je ne comprends pas du tout à quoi joue le PSG. Ils ont le meilleur joueur du monde avec Kylian Mbappé."<a href="https://t.co/AAh8Yj8AMz">pic.twitter.com/AAh8Yj8AMz</a></p>— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMCsport/status/1683735601747578880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>Superstar currently frozen out of first team</h5>



<p>Mbappe has been left out of PSG’s preseason tour of Japan and is currently training with the reserves. The star previously announced that he will not sign a new contract to extend his stay in Paris. The club must now soon make a decision on the player’s future. PSG could opt to sell the striker now to make a massive chunk of change. Or, it could watch him depart the team for free next summer. There is also a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/psg-may-have-to-pay-mbappe-66-million-loyalty-bonus-20230725-WST-445264.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> $66 million loyalty bonus in Mbappe’s contract that goes into effect Aug. 1.</p>



<h2>PSG accepted huge Saudi offer for Mbappe despite Paris mayor confusion</h2>



<p>Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal already submitted a $331 million bid for Mbappe earlier in the week. PSG accepted the offer and granted the player permission to speak with the Saudi club. Mbappe, however, does not appear willing to make the move to the Middle East. </p>



<p>PSG officials claim to believe that the star desperately wants to join <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a>. Nevertheless, the Spanish outfit may not be able to afford the pricey player. Instead, Mbappe may refuse any other transfer and sit on the Parisian sidelines for the duration of the 2023/24 campaign. The Frenchman would then be able to move to Madrid as a free agent in 2024.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</em></p>


Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has recently slammed PSG for their role in the uncertainty regarding the future of Kylian Mbappe.

Paris mayor criticizes PSG in handling of Mbappe


<p>Bayern Munich beat <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">PSG</a> at home to advance to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Champions League</a> quarterfinals on Wednesday. The German giants brought an advantage to the game after <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/coman-scores-against-former-club-as-bayern-beat-psg-20230214-WST-419821.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">edging the Parisians 1-0</a> three weeks ago. </p>



<p>PSG entered the massive match without superstar Neymar. The Brazilian suffered an ankle injury last month in a Ligue 1 fixture against Lille. While the extent of the setback wasn’t initially known, PSG announced earlier this week that their star forward would need <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/neymar-done-for-season-after-requiring-ankle-surgery-20230306-WST-422416.html">season-ending surgery</a>.</p>



<p>The match on Wednesday started a bit shaky. Neither team could really mount much of an attack in the opening 20 minutes or so. In fact, the first shot of the game came in the 16th minute. Leon Goretzka had a decent chance at goal, but put his shot directly at Gianluigi Donnarumma.</p>



<h5>Match opens up after a slow start</h5>



<p>While the first half ended goalless, the game did eventually open up. Lionel Messi, Jamal Musiala and Vitinha all had good chances to put their teams ahead in the opening period. Messi first had two shots in consecutive seconds saved by goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Musiala then drove by Danilo and put a powerful shot on goal to sting the hands of Donnarumma.</p>



<p>However, Vitinha had the best chance of the first half to score a goal. Sommer made a mistake and left his net wide open in the 39th minute. Vitinha looked certain to score when the ball fell directly to his feet inside the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern</a> box. Nevertheless, Matthijs de Ligt&nbsp;made a goal-saving clearance right on the line.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🗣 "You&apos;d put your beating heart on Vitinha scoring that one but you&apos;d be dead"<a href="https://twitter.com/RayHudson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RayHudson</a> can&apos;t believe PSG aren&apos;t in front. <a href="https://t.co/JOlKmTUKrM">pic.twitter.com/JOlKmTUKrM</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1633568991125049346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Bayern put the ball into the back of the net early in the second half. It would not count though. Eric Choupo-Moting scored the chalked-off goal with a glancing header. Thomas Müller was, however, offside and made an attempt to touch the ball before it went into the net. VAR took a further look at the incident and agreed that the goal should be disallowed.</p>



<h2>Persistence pays off for Bayern against PSG</h2>



<p>Choupo-Moting would eventually put the hosts ahead in the 61st minute. Muller nicked the ball off of Marco Verratti inside PSG’s box then found a wide open Goretzka. The German midfielder squared a simple pass to the striker, who <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1633579349571149824" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scored the easy goal</a>. Verratti wasn’t happy that a foul wasn’t called on the play, but replays showed that Muller won the ball fairly.</p>



<p>Second half substitute Serge Gnabry would put the game to bed in the 89th minute. The lethal counter attack started with a tackle by Joshua Kimmich and was finished off by the German international. Despite falling as he struck the ball, Gnabry beat Donnarumma at the far post with a perfectly placed shot. Fellow sub Joao Cancelo provided the assist for this teammate.</p>



<p>The victory means that PSG are still searching for their first ever Champions League trophy. Bayern, on the other hand, put their name into the hat for the quarterfinals. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Matthias Koch</em></p>


Bayern Munich beat PSG on Wednesday to qualify for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, advancing 3-0 on aggregate.

Bayern ease past PSG and into UCL quarterfinals

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
<p>Sunday’s PSG-Lille fixture only gets more enticing from a neutral perspective with the deterioration of Neymar and Mbappé’s relationship.</p>
<p>Two of the world’s greatest players on one of the most expensive and lavish teams cannot see eye to eye. Despite the fact that PSG won its first two games in Ligue 1 play, scoring 10 goals in the process, the drama is at a boiling point.</p>
<p>Now, PSG enters its most important game of this young season against a Lille side that tends to force a good game from the most dominant side in France. Even then, the focus of that fixture is less so on the competition, and more so on the drama involving PSG’s two men up top.</p>
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<h3>Mbappé – Neymar feud takes head at PSG</h3>
<p>It starts from the order of penalty kicks at PSG. In last matchday’s game against Montpellier, PSG won a penalty, which Kylian Mbappé stepped up to take. The keeper saved, but PSG won another penalty later in the first half. This time, Neymar assumed control of the ball, and he slotted it home.</p>
<p>Different penalty takers in one game is nothing new. What is, however, is the manner in which <a href="https://twitter.com/Ibbyreborn/status/1558893465886392321" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kylian Mbappé reacted</a> to Neymar taking the ball. Of course, this is not all on Kylian Mbappé’s immaturity as a leader for PSG. Neymar stirred the pot after the game. The Brazilian international liked a tweet from a fan account claiming “because of the contract, Mbappé is the owner of PSG.” That, of course, relates to Kylian Mbappé’s lucrative new contract at PSG. Rumors swirled that this effectively put the French World Cup winner <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/25/mbappe-rumored-benefits/">in charge of the club’s sporting project</a>.</p>
<p>While Kylian Mbappé states he is nothing more than a player, Neymar’s social media antics do not help in quelling their disgruntled behavior. However, Kylian Mbappé clearly sees himself as the leader of the club. Fair enough, as he is the youngest, a local to Paris and is the future of the club’s plans for over a decade.</p>
<p>However, if he is to embrace the role of a leader, his on-field drama must stop.</p>
<h5>Frustration with teammates</h5>
<p>Players complaining about penalty kick order is a common occurrence. However, Mbappé’s reaction to not receiving a pass in that same Montpellier game is something to note. As PSG advanced the ball forward, Vitinha, a new arrival for the Parisians, dribbled the ball forward towards the right side of the field. Mbappé, occupying the left wing, saw the play developing along the right side. The Frenchman cast his arm in the air, effectively giving up on the play.</p>
<div id="attachment_396152" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-396152" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-396152" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20220818_WST_397138_messi-mbappe-neymar.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=725" alt="" width="1200" height="725" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/08/messi-mbappe-neymar.jpeg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/08/messi-mbappe-neymar-600x363.jpeg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/08/messi-mbappe-neymar-150x91.jpeg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/08/messi-mbappe-neymar-768x464.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-396152" class="wp-caption-text">Photo credit: Tim Clayton – Corbis / Contributor via Getty Images</p></div>
<p>The case can be made the Mbappé wanted to amend his penalty miss earlier in the game when he requested the ball from Neymar. However, casting aside the progression forward because the ball does not come to you is a bad look for any player, particularly one set to be club captain in the future.</p>
<p>This frustration with the play and the previous annoyance with Neymar led to an altercation after the game. According to a number of outlets, <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sergio-ramos-neymar-mbappe-psg-27751243" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sergio Ramos had to step in</a> because Neymar and Mbappé brought their quarrel into the PSG dressing room.</p>
<p>Remember, this is following a 5-2 win at home, not a narrow loss where one of these players made a mistake. In fact, Mbappé still scored in this game, even if it was the fourth goal. Perhaps he does not like being in the shadow of both Neymar and Lionel Messi. Neymar felt the same way at Barcelona, leading to his move to the Parisian club back in 2017.</p>
<h5>Leading into Lille</h5>
<p>Is PSG going to transfer one of these players out? No. Mbappé just signed a lavish new deal and PSG already tried to sell Neymar to no avail. The Brazilian wants to stay at PSG and likely re-establish himself at the top of the pecking order. That applies to both the penalty order and the fanbase.</p>
<p>However, there is a civil war brewing in Paris. Lionel Messi, the last part of the attacking trident at the Parc des Princes, likely takes the side of Neymar. The two are close friends going back to their successful run at Barcelona. According to the Mirror, <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-kylian-mbappe-neymar-27764796" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mbappé is frustrated</a> that Messi took Neymar’s side, despite the Frenchman believing that his Brazilian teammate lacks discipline and a sense of leadership.</p>
<p>If the Montpellier game is any indication, that is a trait that applies to both Neymar and Mbappé.</p>
<p>Now, PSG hits the road again, only it comes against a top French side. Lille struggled last season as they competed in European competition. However, with a sole focus on the league, the northern club wants to return to the upper-echelon of Ligue 1. In a perfect world, that means a second league win in the last four seasons.</p>
<p>Neymar and Mbappé need to put away their differences, and quickly, to ensure that does not happen.</p>
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<p><em>PHOTO: Aurelien Meunier – PSG/PSG via Getty Images</em></p>


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