Mbappé’s PSG Captaincy Bid and Public Perception Under Scrutiny
Kylian Mbappé’s tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, though marked by an impressive tally of 256 goals and his captaincy of the French national team, was conspicuously absent of the captain’s armband at the Parisian club. This detail, according to French consultant Julien Cazarre, was not for lack of trying on Mbappé’s part.
During an appearance on the Colinterview podcast, the comedian delved into the 2023/2024 season, a period that saw the arrival of manager Luis Enrique and an internal vote to decide the next PSG captain. Ultimately, the honour fell to Marquinhos, a decision that reports suggest did not sit well with Mbappé.
Critiques of Mbappé’s Leadership and Communication Style
Cazarre offered a candid assessment of Mbappé’s public persona and leadership qualities, suggesting a perceived lack of genuine empathy. He pointed to the “Brahim Diaz episode” as a prime example, describing it as indicative of someone who struggles with human connection.
“He tries to do everything like someone who fully controls his communication,” Cazarre commented, “but the problem is that you need a minimum of sincerity in football to like someone.” He drew a parallel with Antoine Griezmann, noting that Mbappé’s public actions, such as a particular tweet, occurred at a time when Griezmann was “fading into total anonymity” after a similar bid for the captaincy at PSG. Cazarre asserted that Mbappé “wanted Marquinhos pushed out, but he didn’t get it.”
Furthermore, Cazarre criticised the striker’s overall image and communication strategy, deeming it overly calculated and lacking authenticity. He believes Mbappé exercises excessive control over his public narrative.
“He’s out of touch,” Cazarre stated. “Who says, ‘If I tied my future to the Champions League, I’d be very far from PSG, no disrespect’? You don’t even realise anymore how off you sound on a human level.”
The consultant’s critique extended to Mbappé’s reliance on goalscoring as his primary source of appeal. “He’s condemned to score huge numbers of goals because people won’t like him for anything else — he creates nothing else, even though he has everything needed. All you remember are his goals.” Cazarre suggested that Mbappé has been led to believe he possesses a comprehensive understanding of all matters, controlling his communication and character to an excessive degree. “It’s over the top. And the Brahim Diaz situation is the perfect example of someone with no empathy. What normal person thinks that doing that is a proper tribute?”
The discussion also touched upon the ongoing speculation surrounding Mbappé’s future, with reports suggesting a move to Real Madrid is on the cards, though with certain conditions attached.
In other football news:
- Erling Haaland has reportedly agreed to join Real Madrid, provided one condition is met.
- Real Madrid faces a potential setback in their pursuit of Kylian Mbappé.
- Franck Haise is rumoured to be the leading candidate to replace Habib Beye at Rennes.
- Medhi Benatia has reportedly offered his resignation to Olympique de Marseille (OM).
- PSG player Barcola has unveiled a significant back tattoo, described as “wild.”
- The French national team has been handed a challenging draw for the upcoming Nations League.
