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Lionel Messi 'power' at PSG emerges as driving factor behind Kylian Mbappe wanting move
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe supposedly do not get on at PSG
Lionel Messi plays football with his kids
Lionel Messi’s power within the PSG changing room is reportedly the driving factor behind Kylian Mbappe’s desire for a January transfer. The French international only signed a new deal at the Ligue 1 champions in May, with the contract making him the highest paid player in the world, however, he is now believed to be unhappy with his situation at the club hoping to leave as soon as possible.
Mbappe has a ridiculous goalscoring record at PSG since arriving from Monaco in a £161million deal in 2017. He has found the net 182 times in 229 games, with forward contributing a further 88 assists. His form has continued into this season where he has already scored 11 times in 12 games.
He has undoubtedly been helped during his time at the club through his involvement within the club’s star-studded front three. In Messi and Neymar the 23-year-old has two of the best players in the world helping create chances for him every week however it appears that he is not overly enamoured with the Argentine in particular.
Spanish outlet Marca has reported that Mbappe considers Messi to have too much power within the PSG dressing room, something he believes harms the club’s chances in the Champions League.
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"Those who know that locker room say that Messi has as much power as he had at Barca,” Marca journalist Mario Cortegana explained. "Like Mbappe, and many others, they consider that it is not the most favourable environment to win the Champions League".
The publication has also previously reported that the forward feels ‘betrayed’ by PSG as he believes they have not fulfilled the agreements given to him when he signed his new contract in May. The deal made the star the highest paid footballer in the world and there was also rumours that he would be given more power at the club, something that does not appear to have transpired.
However, he may be best placed waiting until the end of the season at least with it being widely speculated that Messi will return to Barcelona next summer. The 35-year-old’s contract expires in 2023 and it looks likely that an emotional return to the Nou Camp could be on the horizon.
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Mbappe first gave an indication that he was not happy at his current side following France’s win over Austria in the international break, stating he was having more fun playing for his nation as he had more freedom.
"'What they ask of me here is different," he said. "Here, I have much more freedom than at PSG.
"The coach knows that there is a '9,' like Olivier Giroud, and so I can move and go into space. In Paris it is different -- they ask me to play pivot, although I enjoy playing everywhere."