Where? Journos have been fishing heavily for such comments in interviews during summer 17 because those were the rumours but he never bit.
Kylian Mbappe | PSG
- Thread starter RDCR07
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Don't know if he'd leave PSG at 21/22, PSG have quite a firm stance when it comes to selling their best players. I could see him being there for quite some time, the price it would take to get him off PSG would probably double the current world record (if he keeps on the way he is), maybe if Madrid had a few barren years they might throw silly money at PSG for him.
World class.
Can’t believe people thought Rashford was near his level. Mbappe is once in a generation level player.
Would walk into any side in the world.
Can’t believe people thought Rashford was near his level. Mbappe is once in a generation level player.
Would walk into any side in the world.
PSG are difficult to deal with since they don't really care about money and that always complicates matters. However, Mbappe and his family are pretty shrewd in their business. I can't see them signing on with PSG without the understanding that Mbappe will not be spending the majority of his career in Ligue 1. It's possible, but it would be very unlikely from a family that's always planned the next step since he was a kid. It's obviously pure speculation on my part, but the fact that he chose PSG over Madrid when they had agreed to the same terms, tells me he explained he wanted to do something for his home town before moving up in his career and that PSG will not get in the way of that as long as they get their world record fee. The question is, who will Madrid want more, Neymar or Mbappe by then? Because I think it'll cost half a billion just to get those two players.
Those people have all crawled under the woodwork now.
@Sayros Mbappé chose PSG over Madrid because they offered him more money and even more importantly, pretty much guaranteed him he'd be a starter. Meanwhile, we were unwilling to sell Bale and were trying to sell him on replacing the guy who left because of playing time(Morata)
It's been mentioned that during meeting we didn't give his camp the impression we were all that arsed about signing him, unlike PSG
It's been mentioned that during meeting we didn't give his camp the impression we were all that arsed about signing him, unlike PSG
Imagine Mbappe in this Madrid side.
Terrifying.
He’ll be the best striker since Ronaldo.
Terrifying.
He’ll be the best striker since Ronaldo.
I have a hard time also seeing anyone snatch him from PSG. Make an unfriendly approach and they'll trigger a release clause of one of your key players.
The only way I see him leaving is on a free.
The only way I see him leaving is on a free.
That's one version, the other is that Madrid was taken aback from the contract offer PSG laid out but ultimately accepted, he was set to make more money than Ramos, Modric, or Benzema for example, which initially worried Madrid but from what I heard they ultimately matched the offer. I don't think Mbappe was worried about not starting for Madrid regardless, for that fee and what he can bring to a team he would have quickly made his way to the starting XI.
I'm not saying I'm right or you're wrong, but Florentino Perez is still upset at Dmitry Rybolovlev to this day that he didn't let him sign Mbappe, so I think it wasn't a matter of contract anymore, just personal choice of the player. But I would put money that his next stop is Madrid, and I think PSG are already aware of that anyways, he's gone in a few years. Even if he runs out his contract, he'll be 22.
He is good and has a lot of potential but he plays in a farmer league and in the world cup he almost only faced weak sides so it's difficult to judge how good he is, against Uruguay and Belgium (the only good def France faced at the world cup) he was pretty average.
I saw mostly people comparing Martial favourably to him myself.
He had a back injury after the game against Argentina and staff did everything to hide this injury to the media.
They talked about this injury in the french documentary...
And Mbappe at 17-18 carried Monaco in a CL semi final.
He might play "in a farmer league" but he showed in the big stage that he was already one of the best player in the world.
He's only 19 but since Pelé we never saw a young player like him..not even Ronaldo.
The titles and records talk for him despite the fact that he isn't even playing in his best position for PSG and the french NT
Until 2017 he never played as right winger
This guy is a monster
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Not to mention he was actually the best player along with Varane against Belgium with a messed up back, that other dude is talking nonsense.
Maybe 10% of posts relating to player assessments are well-reasoned and objective. The rest are usually just attempts to elevate their own club player or dismiss other players using lazy metrics (i.e. league competition). Mbappe's movement, dribble efficiency, vision, passing, finishing, speed... are vastly superior to any of his contemporaries. Astute observers can see that within a single game. Rashford, Martial....it was never close. Mbappe's levels are much higher than anything those two have reached. Consistency over the course of multiple seasons will determine the extent of a player's greatness.
N'importe quoi!
A Monster
this ability to flash the opponent and keep everything under control is magic
this ability to flash the opponent and keep everything under control is magic
i wonder what stage he moves on at....
staying in that French league will be useful as he continues to develop but the only really competitive competition, where he will be testing himself against top sides regularly, will be in the CL
that second goal was pure Ronaldo - incredible pace made the others look like they were in slo-mo
staying in that French league will be useful as he continues to develop but the only really competitive competition, where he will be testing himself against top sides regularly, will be in the CL
that second goal was pure Ronaldo - incredible pace made the others look like they were in slo-mo
Absolute joke for a 19 year old. The arrogance he possesses while being a likeable character and a pleasure to watch is something which hasn't been in this next generation of superstars after Ronaldo and Messi. He's on his way to being the next BPITW with ease.
He might play "in a farmer league" but he showed in the big stage that he was already one of the best player in the world.
He's only 19 but since Pelé we never saw a young player like him..not even Ronaldo.
The titles and records talk for him despite the fact that he isn't even playing in his best position for PSG and the french NT
Nah, Ronaldo played in a league of his own at 19. Absolute freak. Mbappe is brillant but not on this level. Which is no shame since Ronaldo was an absolute prodigy. I'd also choose 19 year old Messi ahead of Mbappe and maybe even Neymar. Goal stats aren't everything.
From what I see, I don't think Mbappe has a ceiling as high as some of the players we've seen in the last 10-15 years. Personally, I don't believe he'll surpass Neymar since the Brazilian can do everything Mbappe can and is even better in many areas. The only thing Mbappe beats Neymar at is top speed. As long as he stays at PSG, he will have the same problem as Neymar (or to a lesser extent Iniesta and Xavi) had when he played at Barca. He'll have a player in his very own team who's simply that tiny bit ahead of him. Mbappe won't be considered the best in the world as long as he remains in Neymar's team. People don't like Neymar for is antics and it affects their judgements but the guy manages to have an incredible output while also being the best dribbler in the world alongside Messi and Hazard. He casually toys with Ligue 1 defenders to a level not even Mbappe comes close to. Yes, Mbappe wil develop but the technical abilities Neymar displayed at 19 years were far superior to anything Mbappe has shown. From what I've seen, I can't believe he'll reach that level.
I hope he doesn't move to Madrid. If the best French players mostly stayed in France, their league would be formidable.
Mbappe really has something about him, such frightening pace! But I mean I'll judge him by his performances in the champions league, if he scores a hat trick against guingamp or troyes or whatever "farmers", meh. The standard is not great of these teams.
I think he's got more about him than Neymar did though at the same age. Not sure what it is, I think he is just a bit stronger on the ball and is quicker pace-wise. He also seems a bit more mature than Neymar in his decision-making on the pitch. Although I don't really like Mbappe tbh I think he is a diver like Neymar. Neymar v2 in this aspect.
I think he's got more about him than Neymar did though at the same age. Not sure what it is, I think he is just a bit stronger on the ball and is quicker pace-wise. He also seems a bit more mature than Neymar in his decision-making on the pitch. Although I don't really like Mbappe tbh I think he is a diver like Neymar. Neymar v2 in this aspect.
I always wonder if those people who state with certainty that "all people always act the same in the same given scenario" grew up on the same planet as I did. It's such an alien belief really.
Didn't he already do that, at 17, whilst still at Monaco during the knock-out stages?
For me, Mbappe at 17, 18 and 19 years old is arguably better than Ronaldo.
Messi and Neymar... they weren't on the same league than him. But I don't think that at the end of his career, Mbappe will be considered as good as Messi. Because even if the precocity of Mbappe is unheard of, the level that Messi has shown since he's 21 is incredible.
By cons I have no doubt he will be better than Neymar. I give him 1 or 2 seasons
At least you are morally consistent.
I have mixed feelings about him. On the one hand the few matches I've had the chance to see him he's mostly been impressive, and his pace is simply supernatural, he certainly reminds me of pre-injuries Ronaldo Nazário, who is probably the best/most unstoppable player I've seen, but I also think it's too early to tell how great a player he's going to be. Plus, as others have mentioned, him being in the Ligue 1 doesn't precisely magnify his performances, and I also believe that a World Cup (or Euro, for that matter) is the wrong, or at least an inadequate, context to judge a player, in fact, we've had plenty of examples of players who were the sensation at one of these international tournaments but failed when required to perform at that level consistently (Baros or Arshavin, off the top of my head). They are too short and far too random to draw any kind of reliable conclusion from them.
When it comes to comparing him with Neymar though, I think Mbappé's potential is higher than Neymar's ever was. I don't know if Mbappé is the better player at the moment, but there are signs that he could overtake Neymar as this season progresses. The aspects of the game Mbappé excels in are generally speaking, more effective than Neymar's, who I've always regarded as a bit gimmicky (not to say he's not good, because he obviously is).
We'll see what happens if he achieves his full potential, I just hope he doesn't go to Real Madrid and the have to sign Neymar instead if they actually decide to make a huge signing. I reckon PSG will want to keep Mbappé if it comes to choosing between the two, and not only for football reasons, but also because of him being French and far less unlikeable than Neymar.
When it comes to comparing him with Neymar though, I think Mbappé's potential is higher than Neymar's ever was. I don't know if Mbappé is the better player at the moment, but there are signs that he could overtake Neymar as this season progresses. The aspects of the game Mbappé excels in are generally speaking, more effective than Neymar's, who I've always regarded as a bit gimmicky (not to say he's not good, because he obviously is).
We'll see what happens if he achieves his full potential, I just hope he doesn't go to Real Madrid and the have to sign Neymar instead if they actually decide to make a huge signing. I reckon PSG will want to keep Mbappé if it comes to choosing between the two, and not only for football reasons, but also because of him being French and far less unlikeable than Neymar.
Everything about this kid says he's going to dominate the game for the next decade. He's scarily good.
Very true.
For me, Mbappe at 17, 18 and 19 years old is arguably better than Ronaldo.
Messi and Neymar... they weren't on the same league than him. But I don't think that at the end of his career, Mbappe will be considered as good as Messi. Because even if the precocity of Mbappe is unheard of, the level that Messi has shown since he's 21 is incredible.
By cons I have no doubt he will be better than Neymar. I give him 1 or 2 seasons
Young players usually develop in two areas: 1) physical abilities and 2) decision making. Just take Cristiano as an example. He was insanely talented, everybody saw that he had amazing technical abilities, was lightning quick and had a great shot. But he needed to bulk up and improve his decision making to become more result-oriented. Neymar is a similar case when he tore the Brazilian league apart. Messi had great decision making from the beginning but he needed to improve his strength/balance, learn to pace himself etc. Consistency is also a thing. Basically, these players didn't improve their "abilities" but how they utilized them. That's what people refer to when they say such things as "his talent has no ceiling" or whatever.
It is much harder to improve your actual abilities than these type of things. And that's why I don't think Mbappe will reach these heights. He already utilizes his abilities to the fullest is already very mature, result-driven and his body is pretty much developed. He could bulk up more but due to his hight center of gravity, this would rob him of his quick turns and stops. However, I have never seen him show any sign of insane ability as Messi, Neymar, Cristiano or Hazard did when they were that young. He outpaces his opponents and is amazing at beating his man but that's compared to "mortal" standards.
Neymar doesn't get enough credit for his abilities. People are amazed by what Mbappe does but Neymar completely outclasses everyone in Ligue 1 and was on the edge of overcoming Messi in Barcelona. His success rate in one on ones or even one on two/threes is astonishing. As good as Mbappe may be, he is currently still a considerable distance away from that level and I can hardly imagine that one day he could be capable of casually beating multiple top players like Neymar does on top of a scoring ratio greater than one goal or assist per game. He's simply not as good technically and especially in tight spaces Neymar is the superior player.
Obviously not all players will be the same. Totti stayed in Rome... a player might want to stay in his country for example which will change things.
But as a general rule it’s true that if two top clubs go for a player, if one offers more than the other then they’ll get him more often than not.
Mbappe will want to leave in a few years, I see no reason as to why United can’t offer him more than Madrid or Barcelona would and I see no reason as to why he’d refuse. Either way when he wants to leave they need to be all over it.
He won’t need to be as good in tight spaces as Neymar or to beat 3 players at a time to become a better player than him. You seem to want him to become exactly like Messi which is the last thing he’s going to be.
His ability on the counter is unmatched, when he has space to run into he’s a lot more dangerous than dribblers like Neymar or Messi who thrive in small spaces. Mbappe sometimes struggles to make an impact when teams defend deep but he doesn’t have to dribble past 3 players to fix that, he just needs to add other dimensions to his game and become more complete. He needs to have a better shot from outside of the box, start being a threat in the air, take set pieces, make the right runs without the ball, etc.
At this moment Neymar isn’t a much better player than Mbappe. He is when they’re playing in Ligue 1 and teams sit deep but when they face teams on a similar level you’ll see that Neymar’s style of play is much easier to stop than Mbappe’s.
Concerning your last point, yesterday Neymar didn't had Mbappé's impact in the first half. Mbappé came in, played upfront which is in my opinion his best position and totally changed the game. In their respective role, they are very close.
Is this a common opinion? Because, while I agree his potential is immense and is one of the best teenagers in recent memory, I still don't think he's actually near that level yet.
Let's be honest, some of us stil have doubts over him simply because he doesn't play for United. Otherwise, we'd crown him the best already.
I was much more impressed with his season at Monaco than I was with his last season where he wasn’t as good as Cavani or Neymar and that’s because of the difference in style of play between that Monaco team and PSG.
Last year he had a good WC but disappeared in the CL against Madrid and in the league he went through big periods without having a very good game. I think Emery failed to get the best out of him, couldn’t have asked for a better start under Tuchel so hopefully this year is different. It’s about time PSG make a great CL run.
Last year he had a good WC but disappeared in the CL against Madrid and in the league he went through big periods without having a very good game. I think Emery failed to get the best out of him, couldn’t have asked for a better start under Tuchel so hopefully this year is different. It’s about time PSG make a great CL run.
Well, the modern game IS about excelling at tight spaces. Inferior opponents surrender the midfield and crowd the box, opponents on eye level put each other under constant pressure through intense pressing and barely leave you room to breath as a star player. Messi exemplarily is constantly surrounded by at least two people in top games, often they even try to isolate him completely and adjust their formations to it. The most important players are those that can crack open defenses, outplay the opponent's pressing and dribbling simply happens to be the most efficient way to do that. There isn't a single top team which succeeds without dribblers. It's just too hard to create chances otherwise.
It's funny that you think Mbappe isn't far behind Neymar and the latter should be easier to defend against. It was Neymar who toyed with Madrid's defense, created chance after chance and who PSG missed badly in the second leg, not Mbappe who often fails to make an impact in such games. Neymar was also brillant against Bayern. People use to say that he can only do the things he does becaus ehe's playing in a weak league, yet he does the exact same things against top opponents and defenders. His passing is also great, much much better than Mbappe's.
And besides that, Neymar is even better resultwise which actually should be Mbappe's business. He scored a goal or assist every 56 minutes last season and after watching a season compilation of him, the vast majority of these scorers can only be described as work of arts. That is on top of him dribbling and creating chances more than anyone else. And he doesn't even look like he tries too hard, showboating much and taking it easy in the league.
So no, it isn't close, Neymar is still on a completely different level to him.
No, he really isn’t. He’s better, but not by much. And the modern game is about excelling in tight spaces? Come on... Isco must be the best in the world.
Dribbling isn’t the most efficient way of outplaying the press or to crack open a defense at the highest level. Most chances in football don’t happen after some kind of dribbling, Real Madrid have won the past 3 CLs, go take a look at all the goals in these 3 campaigns and tell me how many were created by dribbling from tight spaces... how important those different parts of the game are will massively depend from team to team.
Dribbling isn’t the most efficient way to evade the press either. Good luck trying to press a team with Mbappe, to press you must leave space in behind which is impossible to do with him on the pitch. Liverpool didn’t struggle with press last season not because they had brilliant build up play with technically brilliant players but because their front 3 makes it impossible for them to be pressed without the opponents exposing themselves. Mbappe’s threat on the counter alone outplays the opponent’s press, not his ability in tight spaces which is actually still very good anyway. That’s why I always tell you that a player should be judged on the impact they have on the whole game and not just on how good they look individually with the ball.
Messi and Neymar need a lot of the ball, top defensive teams will put 2 or 3 players on them and it instantly becomes a lot more difficult for them to make a difference that way unless they have other big threats on the team. It is simply not true that they manage to retain the same level of effectiveness with their dribbling regardless of who the opponents are and what the strategy to stop them is.
You like Messi so much that you rate how good a player is due to how similar to Messi they are. Mbappe will never be a similar player and he doesn’t need it to become the best player in the world for the next decade. I completely agree with you when it comes to his potential though. Young players often become better due to improving their physical condition and their decision making, both of these things are things Mbappe already excels at so he doesn’t have huge potential to become better than what he already is.
Madrid still have Modric, Marcelo, Isco, Bale and Vazquez who bring dribbling elements into their game. Dribbling creates superiority and it often happens at Madrid before the chances are created. And how often does Modric free himself from his markers be one or two quick steps or turns? That's how you outplay pressing, create transitional moments and chances.
That's delusional, really. Madrid isn't pressed as much because they had arguably the most pressing reistent midfield in the world in the last five years just like teams surrender the midfield against City nowadays (or Barcelona, Bayern etc.). Well executed pressing doesn't give you the time and lanes to play controlled long passes. Dortmund under Klopp destroyed a Real Madrid with Cristiano and Özil in their primes, probably the best counterattacking team I've seen in my life. It was only when Kroos and Modric were brought in that Madrid dominated the ball as they did and teams started defending the box against them. Barcelona always plays an incredibly high line against Madrid and more often then not gets the better of them.
I don't disagree with your point regarding the impact of a player by the way, it's not about a player's abilities but how well he utilizes them. I simply think that Neymar has much more impact on his teams than Mbappe both against cannon fodder as well as against top teams (same thing regarding Messi vs. Ronaldo, but this doesn't belong here). I mean, it is so obvious that Neymar clearly outperforms Mbappe by a landslide in terms of all aspects of attacking impact that seriously suggesting the opposite is almost ridiculous. If Mbappe at least had better scoring stats than Neymar despite participating less or had better big game performances it would be a debate but as of now Neymar simply outperforms him in every area there is.
Yes, and when the opponent puts two or three players on you that says much about how dangerous you are to them and as a side product creates space in other areas of the pitch for your team mates. And again, Neymar was brillant against Madrid and Bayern, two of the best teams in the world, last season and toyed with their defenders as he pleased.
Or I simply rate dribbling, ball control and passing ability which is why I coincidently rate players with a certain profile like Neymar, Hazard, Dybala, Isco, Modric, Robben, Iniesta etc. I did so before I had even knew Messi.
Why should I even do that? I'm neither from Argentina nor a Barca fan, I have no personal connection to Messi whatsoever apart from thinking he's one hell of a footballer.
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@Zehner Madrid don’t get pressed as much because of the midfield who are great on the ball but I gave you the Liverpool example too from last season. There are multiple ways to fight the opponent’s press, being great in tight spaces as a team and not make mistakes in forbidden areas is one of them but not the only one. Mbappe being arguably the best counterattacking player in the world (behind Salah imo) does make it a lot easier on their midfield and defense to build up while not getting as much pressure. The best part is he doesn’t even have to touch the ball to be able to make that difference. That’s why I say that Ronaldo being one of the best counterattacking players ever and one of the best headers of the ball ever has a huge impact on the game that goes way beyond just the fact he scores a lot of goals that way.
Madrid could have won the CL before 2014 regardless of the midfield not dominating games, you’re taking conclusions from the final results while ignoring what happened. In 2012 they were the best team in the world, Mourinho fecked up and they lost on penalties, it happens. In the end you need a couple of details to go your way but they’ve been at pretty much the same level for 8 years straight. It wasn’t the change in style that made them win more.
Neymar toyed with Bayern when they were crap and was decent (and nothing more) against Madrid who are a bad defensive unit. Regardless, he’s going to have great games because he’s a great player but him being the main threat of the team while playing the way he does makes it easier for top defensive teams to put a stop to it. Not just to Neymar specifically but to PSG. Players like Salah, Mbappe, Reus, Bale, a younger Ronaldo or Robben, etc. who are very fast and impossible to stop in space do not have the same problems to create for themselves in these games and do not need to dribble in tight spaces to completely dominate a game. They facilitate the game for their team just by the threat they carry on the counter since they do not allow the opponents to press high and they make not controlling possession not be a big problem for their teams. Klopp’s teams are the perfect example of this.
As for the dribbling to create chances, you were the one that said it was tough to create chances without dribbling which is simply not true. Like I said, Madrid are the 3 time CL champions, go and watch all their goals for those 3 CL campaigns and tell me how many chances were created via dribbling in tight spaces. 99% of chances in football had no kind of dribbling done in the build up to it, it might be great to watch and make you call those goals ‘works of art’ but it is not a necessary part of the game for a team to be able to create chances.
Madrid could have won the CL before 2014 regardless of the midfield not dominating games, you’re taking conclusions from the final results while ignoring what happened. In 2012 they were the best team in the world, Mourinho fecked up and they lost on penalties, it happens. In the end you need a couple of details to go your way but they’ve been at pretty much the same level for 8 years straight. It wasn’t the change in style that made them win more.
Neymar toyed with Bayern when they were crap and was decent (and nothing more) against Madrid who are a bad defensive unit. Regardless, he’s going to have great games because he’s a great player but him being the main threat of the team while playing the way he does makes it easier for top defensive teams to put a stop to it. Not just to Neymar specifically but to PSG. Players like Salah, Mbappe, Reus, Bale, a younger Ronaldo or Robben, etc. who are very fast and impossible to stop in space do not have the same problems to create for themselves in these games and do not need to dribble in tight spaces to completely dominate a game. They facilitate the game for their team just by the threat they carry on the counter since they do not allow the opponents to press high and they make not controlling possession not be a big problem for their teams. Klopp’s teams are the perfect example of this.
As for the dribbling to create chances, you were the one that said it was tough to create chances without dribbling which is simply not true. Like I said, Madrid are the 3 time CL champions, go and watch all their goals for those 3 CL campaigns and tell me how many chances were created via dribbling in tight spaces. 99% of chances in football had no kind of dribbling done in the build up to it, it might be great to watch and make you call those goals ‘works of art’ but it is not a necessary part of the game for a team to be able to create chances.
I think talent wise they are comparable. As for how he develops, I don't sure the confidence of this forum that he will become an all time great either. Development is hard to predict. We will see when he is 22 whether he has kicked on from scoring 20 goals for psg. Fair enough to got important world cup goals, so did Michael Owen