by Eagle-eyed fans spotted a message about Kylian Mbappe in Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier’s notebook.
The French champions were in contention with Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday night. During the match, fans spotted a message on Galtier’s notebook that read: “Kylian pref (right).”
This comes after a controversial Instagram story posted by Mbappe following PSG’s 0-0 draw with Reims on Saturday.
Mbappe posted a photo of himself with the hashtag ‘pivot gang’. According Get French football newsthis is a reference to the French international not wanting to play alone up front.
Hours before the match against Benfica kicked off, breaking reports claimed that Mbappe has asked to leave PSG in January as the relationship between the Frenchman and the club has broken down.
According to French football expert Julien Laurens, Mbappe feels betrayed by the Parc des Princes team.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “He feels betrayed by the club in the sense that all the things the club promised him when he signed the new deal until 2025 didn’t happen.
“Promises that they would sign a new striker so he could play in his best position outside the striker, that Neymar wouldn’t be there and he would be sold, that they would sign a central defender and he would be in the center. All these things have not happened.
“We knew there were tensions and now he’s made up his mind and he doesn’t want to be there. He feels he made a mistake by extending his contract and should have left in the summer, now he’s looking at the January transfer window where he could go.”
However, ahead of kick-off, PSG sporting director Luis Campos rubbished the rumours, saying Mbappe “never talked about leaving” the club in January.
He told Canal Plus: “I am with Kylian Mbappe every day. He has never spoken to me about leaving in January.
“It’s not a statement from the player, it is [from the press], and having such information before such a match is very serious. That’s why I’m here, to refute and say clearly that Kylian Mbappe has never spoken to me or the president [Nasser Al-Khelaifi] to leave PSG in January.”
Campos added to RMC Sport: “Kylian is a great professional. For example, he played sick in the last game in Reims, he made the effort for the team. I see Kylian coming with his teammates, happy every day and with huge desire to work.”
Mbappe scored later in the evening from the penalty spot to give his side a 1-0 half-time lead. However, a second-half penalty from Joao Mario rescued a point for Benfica.
