Mbappé: money in football is "obscene"
The PSG star has spoken of the "obscene" money in football, days after documents about his astronimical PSG contract demands were leaked.
PSG striker Kylian Mbappé has spoken about the “obscene” amount of money in professional football, in an interview with Swiss television channel RTS, but conceded that is how the game works and he has to respect the system.
"It's really obscene for me, because I come from a fairly modest family,” said the French international. “It's true that it's obscene, but the market is like that, and the world of football works like that. I'm not going to revolutionise football. In a system, you have to know how to respect it and stay in your place too.”
His comments come less than a week after Germany’ Der Spiegel published Football Leaks documents which unveiled an astonishing set of contract demands made by the then 18-year-old France forward when he was moving from Monaco to PSG.
These included: financial compensation should PSG be excluded from the Champions League over Financial Fair Play issues; a clause inserted into his deal that would automatically make him the club’s highest-paid player if he were to win the Ballon d’Or; 30,000 euros a month to cover personal staff expenses; and the use of a private jet for 50 hours a year.
Mbappé: 'I don’t want to be a copy’
Mbappé became one of the hottest properties in world football following an excellent showing at the World Cup with tournament winners France, and is now frequently compared with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and PSG team-mate, Neymar. But in the RTS interview, the teenage star said he does not "want to be a copy" of any other player.
“Like most veterans, you must make your story for yourself and not be a copy of another. I think it's natural to have high self-esteem,” he said, before going on to add that, "I keep a childish side, staying a bit immature is not bad, there is so much pressure in football that joy and having a bit of fun can help a little.”
Mbappé on Emmanuel Macron
One of the lasting images of France’s World Cup victory was French Emmanuel president Macron wildly gesticulating from the VIP area as the team lifted the trophy. The head of state was also pictured kissing the 19-year-old goal scorer Mbappé on the head while celebrating with players after the final whistle.
As protocol has it, Macron invited the players to a reception at the Elysee Palace on their homecoming from Russia, an event Mbappé also recalled in the RTS interview, in which he complemented the French president.
“He was really respectful and charming with us,” said the PSG star. “He's a great man. I didn’t get nervous when I entered the Elysee Palace. I never get nervous; I'm never afraid. I have a dream life and when you have a dream life, you don’t have fear.”
