Mbappe was promised a striker by PSG
FT Desk
- 30 Sept 2022 08:35 BST
- 3 min read
Kylian Mbappe has complained about his role for PSG compared to France, and now coach Christophe Galtier has admitted that the cub promised to sign a No.9 this summer.
Mbappe plays off Karim Benzema, or latterly Olivier Giroud, for France, but he has been leading the line in Paris this season, with Neymar and Lionel Messi tucked in behind.
On the surface, it looks to be working, with Mbappe scoring 10 goals in all competitions and PSG top of Ligue 1 and their Champions League Group H.
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Mbappe goalpic.twitter.com/LsIS6NLMfB— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 22, 2022
But Mbappe - who was handed a far-reaching contract by PSG after spurning Real Madrid in May - aimed a dig at club after scoring for France against Austria earlier this month.
"I play differently, they ask other things of me here than at my club," he said. "I have a lot more freedom here. The coach knows that there's a No.9 like Olivier, who keeps defences occupied.
Mbappe: 'different not having that'
"Me, I can walk around, get into space, ask for through balls. In Paris, it's different not having that. I'm asked to be a pivot which is different. I'm very happy with today's game."
Paris let Mauro Icardi - a natural No.9 - leave on loan to Galatasaray this summer, and although they signed the promising Hugo Ekitike on loan from Reims, the youngster has been restricted to five appearance off the bench in Ligue 1.
Mbappe might have been reprimanded for a slight against his employers, but instead PSG coach Galtier has backed him up.
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"[Mbappe's] analysis is fair," he said. "He isn't in the same set-up here as he is with France. It's a conversation I had with him during the pre-season and one I also had with the president and [Football Advisor] Luis Campos.
"We were all convinced that we needed a fourth player with a different profile. This fourth player never came. It's a shame that that’s how it is."
