Former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona defender Dani Alves has accused Kylian Mbappe of failing to understand that, while he’s a ‘phenomenon’, Lionel Messi and Neymar are still better.
Mbappe has formed one third of football’s most high-profile attack for just over a year now, with Messi joining him and Neymar at Parc des Princes at the start of last season.
It has been claimed in recent months that the Frenchman hasn’t been all too happy about having to share the spotlight. There have even been rumours that he wanted the club to sell Neymar, while Mbappe has also made clear his desire to leave – although he publicly denied the reports.
Alves rates the Frenchman highly but claims that Neymar, 30, and Messi, 35, are better and that the 23-year-old would actually benefit from accepting that himself.
“He is a phenomenon that still has not understood that those who play with him in attack are more phenomenal than him,” the veteran Brazilian full-back told La Gazzetta. “Neymar and Messi are unique: they see and do things that nobody sees or can do.
“A great player must always know and understand who he is playing with, your teammates enrich your qualities. You have to be intelligent to take advantage of the potential of Neymar and Messi, they are two geniuses.
“When I played with Leo, I gave it to him. And if I play with Ney, I also gave it to him. If Mbappe gives the ball to those two, he would score 150 goals.”
The PSG trio could well face one another at the World Cup with Argentina, Brazil and France three of the favourites for the title.
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Credit: 90min.com