Paris Saint Germain striker, Kylian Mbappe has expressed his happiness for the opportunity of playing alongside Lionel Messi, a player regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
After spending over 17 years of his professional football career at FC Barcelona, Messi joined PSG on a free transfer. He had to leave his childhood club when the Spanish giants failed to extend his contract due to financial complications.
Messi met Neymar at PSG. He played alongside the Brazilian at FC Barcelona. Hence, Messi being in the same team as Neymar was not new to the Brazilian winger.
But it was a huge deal for a player like Kylian Mbappe who has never played alongside Lionel Messi even though he has played against him on a couple of occasions.
In an interview with CNN, Kylian Mbappe who emerged as the winner of the Best Men’s Player of the Year award at the 2021 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, said it has been a big pleasure to play alongside the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“It’s a big pleasure for me to say to my kids, my friends, I play with him,” Mbappe said.
“We have to enjoy seeing him in Paris… It’s an amazing moment in the history of the game.”
The arrival of Lionel Messi at PSG has increased the chances of the club to win the UEFA Champions League which has eluded the club in the history of the French Ligue 1 giants.
With just Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as PSG’s main men, the French Ligue 1 giants have been able to reach the final of the Champions League and the semi-final stage of the competition on different editions of the tournament.
Hence, with the addition of Messi to the squad, PSG would have no excuse if they fail to win the tournament this season. Unfortunately for them, they would have to knock out Real Madrid in the round of 16 to stand a chance of playing in the final.
Mbappe said: “We have to be ready. It’s time. It’s the most important part of the season. Of course, we want to step up now. It’s been two years we do final, semi-final, but now we want to win.”
Kylian Mbappe gives an update on his future with PSG
Kylian Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco, first on loan on August 31, 2017, and then on a permanent deal on June 30, 2018, for a transfer fee worth €145 million.
Since then, he has been one of the most consistent players at the club and arguably the best of them all. But the 22-year-old French striker has a dream which is to play at Real Madrid.
Ahead of the 2021-2022 season, he told PSG that he wanted to leave amid offers from Real Madrid but PSG were able to frustrate the deal until it became impossible for the player to leave last summer.
Mbappe has less than a season left on his contract with PSG and he is expected to sign a pre-contract with Real Madrid during the January transfer window.
All things being equal, the Frenchman is expected to leave PSG at the end of the 2021-2022 season and his most likely destination after PSG is Real Madrid.
In an interview with CNN recently, Kylian Mbappe confirmed that he would complete this season at PSG.
He said: “I’m at PSG, I’m really happy. I will finish the season [here], 100 percent.
“I’ll give everything I have to win the Champions League, the league and cup. And to give all the pleasure to the fans because they deserve it”.
French superstar @KMbappe talks to @BeckyCNN about playing for Paris Saint-Germain alongside Lionel Messi and what's in store for his future.
— CNN Sports (@cnnsport) December 28, 2021
👉 https://t.co/zrlUZWRzgP pic.twitter.com/mMIPQG57r0
