And here we go again my Kyky. Every day (or almost), “20 Minutes” takes stock of the latest advances and rumors more or less based on the future of Kylian Mbappé, whose relations with PSG follow the inverse curve of global warming. Departure to Real Madrid this summer or not? Spread the word, the Mbappometer is back.
Wednesday August 23
Luis Enrique still gave us a nice unexpected gift, from his first steps at the head of Paris Saint-Germain. Considering that the choice of the team captain belongs to the players, in this legendary context of Telenovela SG, is a bold idea to say the least. And the guarantee of entertainment that could keep us going all week, until the shock against RC Lens on Saturday (9 p.m.). Yes, but what relationship with our daily dose of Mbappometer will you tell us?
You can imagine that when you are PSG’s best player, its best scorer, its best-paid athlete, the one who can take responsibility for penalties, free kicks and corners as he pleases (he had the greatness of soul to leave the keys to his pals Achraf Hakimi and Lucas Hernandez), the captain’s armband is expected to be a formality. And this especially when we have already crossed this symbolic milestone in the France team and that the “historic” captain of PSG (since 2020) is none other than a defender in constant regression, put on the bench for the first match of the Luis Enrique era against Lorient (0-0), and only targeted by the Saudi championship this summer.
It was written, despite the vagueness around his future at the club (like every summer in fact), “Kyky” was therefore still going to take the rank in the locker room at 24 years old. Yes… but no, since the players spontaneously voted, on the fly, in favor of maintaining Marquinhos (yes, he was the one described above, you guessed it), last Friday on the eve of Toulouse -PSG (1-1), as revealed by RMC Sport.
The case could have ended there, but we are at PSG, so that’s where it gets tricky. RMC Sport thus explains that some leaders (including Luis Campos, by chance?) and Parisian players (including “Kyky”, by chance?) have not tasted this method of electing the captain. A second vote was therefore organized on Tuesday at the PSG Campus in Poissy, in a more formal and above all anonymous way. With voting booth, ballot papers and the photo of each candidate available? History doesn’t say it, but the verdict is comical (drum roll):
1. Marquinhos, aka the ex-taulier in distress, but kept on his throne
2. Danilo Pereira, aka the sure guy, jack of all trades but never a real starter
3. Presnel Kimpembe, aka the Parisian titi subscriber to the infirmary since the end of 2022
4. Kylian Mbappé, aka the unloved
Because yes, while we happened to imagine him untouchable in the eyes of all his partners, ultimate poto of Achraf Hakimi, youth guide, and everything and everything and everything, Kylian Mbappé finds himself in this internal vote (and own to the players) rich in symbolism off the podium, behind three players having in common not to be indisputable holders in power. What to sulk and consider leaving this summer, in view of this episode in a locker room that does not understand/deserve it? Sorry Kylian, it is in any case a priori not this summer that the Parc des Princes will sing loudly: “Cap’tain Kyky you are not from our galaxy”.
Credibility: 90%. RMC Sport most often aims right on the internal files of the Parisian locker room. And then it’s so PSG-compatible this beginning of a soap opera capable of putting boxing in a group for not much that we can only believe it.
Mbappometer: We want to believe in the theory of a “Kyky” on the sulky blow, because now fully aware that his personality / his power annoy his teammates. But from there to seeing him seriously take this “captaingate” into account in his reflection on the 2023 transfer window, we are not following this lead. Another real trend for one more season in Paris for Kylian Mbappé, in our opinion, on Wednesday August 23.