MX23RW : Wednesday, May 1 17:08:52| >> :60:1687:1687:

Paris Saint-Germain "strongly deny" Kylian Mbappe smear campaign

PSG
© Reuters
Paris Saint-Germain "strongly deny" conducting a social media smear campaign against Kylian Mbappe amid claims that the striker wants to leave the club.

Paris Saint-Germain have denied setting up fake social media accounts to conduct a smear campaign against people associated with the club, including Kylian Mbappe.

The Ligue 1 champions were stunned by fresh revelations over the striker's future earlier this week, as it is alleged that he feels "betrayed" by the board over unfulfilled promises.

Mbappe snubbed interest from Real Madrid to sign a new three-year deal at the Parc des Princes earlier this year, but he supposedly now feels that he has made a mistake and wants to leave.

Luis Campos and Christophe Galtier have both denied the rumours surrounding Mbappe, who scored in PSG's 1-1 Champions League draw with Benfica mere hours after reports over his future emerged.

With that strike, Mbappe overtook Edinson Cavani as PSG's highest-scoring player of all time in the Champions League, but a report from Mediapart has alleged that Les Parisiens concocted a smear campaign against the forward.

Kylian Mbappe in action for Paris Saint-Germain on October 1, 2022© Reuters

It has been claimed that PSG hired a third party to create a wave of fake Twitter accounts, which were purely set up to target Mbappe and others with hate messages.

Such tactics have allegedly been in use by PSG's communications department for over three years, but the club have emphatically denied trying to purposely tarnish Mbappe's reputation.

"PSG strongly deny Mediapart's allegations. PSG is an international brand that works constantly with social media agencies around the world to promote and celebrate the achievements of the Club, its employees and its partners, like all companies. The Club has never contracted with an agency to harm anyone," a statement read.

After trying and failing to prise Mbappe away from Paris in the summer, Real Madrid are understood to have dropped their interest in signing the 23-year-old, leaving Liverpool as his only realistic option for a move in 2023.

However, the Reds could already end up forking out a club-record amount on the capture of Darwin Nunez and are not expected to pursue a deal for Mbappe in the near future.

Kylian Mbappe in action for Paris Saint-Germain on September 10, 2022© Reuters

Galtier was questioned on the Mediapart report and Mbappe's future ahead of Sunday's Ligue 1 clash with Marseille in Le Classique, and the PSG boss cut a furious figure and was not prepared to comment on the speculation.

"During these press conferences we have to speak for 10 maybe 15 minutes and only one of those minutes we talk about football. We only talk about topics nothing to do with the game. Whatever I say to you, you don't believe me – because you'll write the complete opposite," Galtier responded.

"So when I say that a player does well, that they get on well, that they are professional – but it doesn't interest anyone. Other things are written. I'm not here to comment on these rumours.

"Have I spoken to Kylian about THE rumour? No, I found him very invested and serious in his preparation for the match. I'm very pleased and proud of these players, so please write that and let's talk about the football."

Mbappe has amassed 12 goals from 13 games in all tournaments throughout the 2022-23 season, taking his total for PSG to 183 strikes and 88 assists in 230 games since 2017.

PSG will look to maintain or increase their one-point lead over Lorient at the top of the Ligue 1 table with victory over Classique rivals Marseille on Sunday, and the champions have been handed a major injury boost with Lionel Messi ahead of the contest.

ID:496989:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5929:

Kylian Mbappe future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Kylian Mbappe

Click here for more stories about Paris Saint-Germain

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Kylian Mbappe in action for Paris Saint-Germain on October 1, 2022
Read Next:
Kylian Mbappe 'feels betrayed by PSG, wants January exit'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CParis Saint-GermainPSG312010176294770
2MonacoMonaco31177758411758
3Brest31168749331656
4Lille311510645271855
5Nice31149836251151
6Lens31137114034646
7Marseille31111194738944
8Lyon31135134251-944
9Rennes31119114841742
10Toulouse311010113840-240
11Reims31117133845-740
12Montpellier HSCMontpellier31911113943-437
13StrasbourgStrasbourg3199133444-1036
14NantesNantes3195172949-2032
15Le HavreLe Havre31611143041-1129
16Metz3185183251-1929
17Lorient3168173761-2426
18Clermont31510162550-2525


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!