Mbappe and Neymar call a truce before the World Cup

FT Desk

29 Sept 2022 09:33 BST
3 min read

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in action for PSG — © ProShots

The relationship between Kylian Mbappe and Neymar has been stretched thin at PSG in recent months, but it appears the superstar forwards are now prepared to bury the hatchet.

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Mbappe and Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain in the same summer of 2017, the former on loan from Monaco as one of the most promising teenagers on the planet, and the latter in a world record €222 million move from Barcelona.

But their statuses have swapped across five years at the Parc des Princes. Mbappe was handed a bumper three-year contract to ward off interest from Real Madrid in May, and immediately petitioned against Neymar, who has yet to play more than 20 games in a Ligue 1 season.

🤯 Five years ago today, Neymar signed for #PSG in a world-record €222m deal.

💥 Now he's back to his best!pic.twitter.com/YaaP9SLu5Y
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 3, 2022

Chelsea and Juventus were linked with moves for the Brazilian, but none materialised, and his contract was automatically extended until 2027 in July. He has since plundered eight goals and seven assists in Ligue 1 at a rate of one every 41 minutes, making him statistically the most prolific player in Europe.

Mbappe/Neymar truce

And now Mbappe seems to have calmed down, even stepping aside for Neymar to convert penalties against Monaco and Montpellier.

"Since their explanation about penalty duty, the two men have wanted to turn the page and calm things down," report French sports daily l'Equipe.

"They know they're expected to perform when it matters, both are waiting for the World Cup and don't want to communicate much more about it. A modus vivendi for the greater good isn't so rare in big clubs, with the situation monitored in the coming months - especially during the post-World Cup period and then the next transfer window."

Real president Florentino Perez is reportedly still interested in signing Mbappe, who will still be just 26 when his existing deal expires, but it is unlikely either player leaves as soon as next summer.