Mbappe: I called Neymar a 'tramp', Messi walks around the pitch

Carlo Garganese
Carlo Garganese
  • 5 Oct 2021 02:46 CDT
  • 4 min read
Neymar, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, PSG, 2021/22
© ProShots

Kylian Mbappe has admitted calling PSG teammate Neymar a “tramp” and has commented on the arrival of Lionel Messi.

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Mbappe has dominated the news this week after he told RMC on Monday that he asked to leave PSG this summer in order to join Real Madrid.

He also hit out at PSG for their claim that Mbappe only requested to leave in the last week of August.

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And now, in an extensive interview with L’Equipe, Mbappe has opened up more about his situation at PSG.

The 22-year-old confessed that he called teammate Neymar a “tramp” after he was caught on camera insulting the Brazilian during the match against Montpellier.

What did Mbappe say about Neymar?

“Yes, yes, I said it,” Mbappe admitted.

“Now these are things which happen all the time in football. It just needs to be something that doesn’t linger. That’s why, right after, given how it blew up, I spoke to him about it.

“We already had a few exchanges like that in the past and it will continue, because we want to win, but there shouldn’t be a certain resentment. There isn’t any here at all because I respect the player and the man, and I admire what he is.

“But that’s it, I wasn’t happy with a pass. One day it happened to me too, I didn’t pass it and he wasn’t happy. But there’s no issue.”

What did Mbappe say about Messi?

Mbappe also commented on the summer arrival of Argentine legend Messi, who signed on a shock Bosman transfer from Barcelona.

This created a dream forward trio of Mbappe, Neymar and Messi. The French star says he is delighted to play with Messi, but admits he now has to do more running on the pitch to compensate for his teammate’s low workrate.

“I never imagined Messi coming here,” Mbappe stated.

“He’s one of the rare players who I put in the ‘impossible-for-me-to-play-with’ category. For me, he was never going to leave Barcelona. I am savouring every moment alongside him. You can’t forget that it remains a privilege. He’s someone who loves football. He speaks with everyone, he’s trying to integrate in his own way, even if he is a bit shy. But he’s not shy on the pitch.

“When you have Messi in your team, you know that he has to do a bit less in order to have some fuel left in the tank to be more clear-headed to score. So if you have to go back, that’s what you do. It’s not an issue, there’s an established hierarchy. I’m happy to run when Messi’s walking, it’s not an issue! Come on, it’s Messi [smiles]!

Mbappe is in action this week with the France national team as they take on Belgium in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League.

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