Kylian Mbappe says Neymar has taken him under his wing at Paris Saint-Germain and reveals his 10-year plan

'Ten years from now I would like to be playing for the best team in the world,' says the outstanding teenager in world football

Gonzalo Caada
Tuesday 19 December 2017 18:13 GMT
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Kylian Mbappe is enjoying a fine start to life at Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappe is enjoying a fine start to life at Paris Saint-Germain

French striker Kylian Mbappe has made a dream start to his Paris Saint-Germain career – and has heaped praise on his strike-partner Neymar for helping him to settle in at the club.

The 18-year-old moved to PSG from Monaco initially on loan, in a deal that will ultimately cost the club a fee in the region of €180m.

He has hit 11 goals in just 20 games with PSG currently sitting top of the table and safely through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and Mbappe has revealed that a lot of that is down to Neymar.

“Immediately after [joining PSG], he put me under his wing and helped me to integrate in the group. He was actually waiting for me,” Mbappe revealed in an interview with France Football.

“Before I come to Paris he sent me a lot of messages saying: ‘When are you coming?’. When I finally arrived he calmed me and on the field he is always looking for me and giving me the ball.

“It helps a lot when a player like him embraces you in this way.”

His start at the Parc des Princes could hardly have been better, with Mbappe already enjoying an almost-telepathic connection with teammates Neymar and Edinson Cavani. Each time we play I have a greater understanding with them”, Mbappe added.

The three have been prolific for PSG 

“My situation doesn’t allow me to do things of a teenager,” he says. “Since I can’t go out much I bring many friends home. We play, we laugh and we think of things other than just football. These are the only moments when I can behave like a boy of my age”.

But he keeps his feet on the ground and appreciates his privileged life. “I don’t’ understand those who talk about the sacrifices they made during their career. In my opinion, the real sacrifice is getting up every morning very soon to work”.

The youngster has also made clear his ‘ten-year plan’, revealing that he will only stay in Paris for as long as the club is fighting for titles.

“Ten years from now I would like to be playing for the best team in the world. If that is PSG, then I will still be here,” he said.

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