The new Real Madrid player is facing strong criticism in France following his statements in a press conference and his attitude towards the French national team since switching clubs.
Kylian Mbappé’s free transfer to Real Madrid is still not sitting well with PSG and its surroundings. Among those who have criticized the French forward lately is former PSG player Jérôme Rothen. He voiced his opinions on the RMC radio platform.
“It’s very clear, I’m one of the big naïve ones, and I accept that. All season, I’ve defended Mbappé. Sportingly, he doesn’t need defending; he often shows he’s on another level. But all year, I highlighted the coach, the teammates, the positioning on the field, the relationship with the management… It was all smoke and mirrors,” Rothen declared on air.
“A lack of respect”
“When I see that in the space of fifteen days, since the Coupe de France final ended, when I see the exemplary attitude he showed yesterday… and I’m not even talking about the sporting aspect because when you play against Luxembourg, well… Automatically he was in the right zone to be decisive, and he was, so kudos to him.
But it’s especially about functioning as a leader, as a captain of this team, with a smile, in communion with the fans.
In fact, everything that happened yesterday is everything we didn’t see throughout the season with PSG,” the presenter continued. “For five months, and I won’t even dwell on the last two months, which were catastrophic in terms of communication, when he doesn’t run, when he doesn’t make an effort, it’s not a problem with the coach, nor with the management, nor with the president, nor with the fans. It’s just a lack of respect.
When you place yourself in the category of the best players in the world, of the future Ballon d’Or winner, you have to have the attitude to match. You have to fight for your teammates, for your country, for your club.”
“For me, he betrayed us throughout the season. This season has been catastrophic in terms of image, in terms of communication. I’m very angry with him because when I see him with the French team, smiling like that, it’s just not possible,” Rothen concluded, visibly annoyed.
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