PSG made Mbappe the world's best striker says Drogba

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Kylian Mbappe has complained about his role at PSG since spurning Real Madrid to extend his stay in the French capital, but Chelsea legend Didier Drogba thinks it has made him a better striker.

Mbappe had all but signed for Real at the end of last season, with los Blancos already making plans for his unveiling at the Bernabeu, but he performed an about turn in May, signing a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain that made him the best paid sportsman in history.

But money doesn't always buy happiness, and in the absence of a bona fide No.9, Mbappe has led the line at the Parc des Princes with Lionel Messi and Neymar behind him - something he complained about in September after scoring twice from the left flank in a 2-0 win over Austria.

READ: Mbappe tried to hijack Lewandowski's Barcelona transfer

"Different things are asked of me here than at my club," he said at the time. "I have a lot more freedom. The coach knows he has a No.9 like Olivier [Giroud] who occupies the defence, and I can move around and drop into space. It's different at PSG. You don't have that. I get asked to play as a pivot…"

Mbappe has been back on the flank with Giroud up front as France have got their World Cup defence off to a flier, and he heads into les Bleus game last 16 meeting with Poland on Sunday as the competition's joint-top scorer on three goals.

Drogb, who is now fast friends with the France star having rejected a selfie with an 11-year-old Mbappe in 2009, insists his PSG experience has made him a better player.

READ: Real Madrid open to Mbappe transfer under TWO conditions

Drogba: 'PSG made Mbappe better'

"For me, a complete striker is someone who can create an assist as well as score - someone who can change the game within one action," he wrote in his BBC column. "England have Harry Kane, who I love to I watch, but France's Kylian Mbappe is the player who stands out as the being the best at doing all of those things I have mentioned [assist, score], all together.

"He can expose defenders one-on-one with his pace but I think the fact he has played in different forward positions for his club, Paris St-Germain, has helped to make his game more rounded - to become more complete, if you like."

Mbappe has scored 19 goals in 20 games for PSG this season - with five assists for good measure - but speculation has begun to resurface that Real are ready to rekindle their interest in him.