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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Graeme Young

The Kylian Mbappe and Neymar timeline of woe as PSG superstars spark astonishing dressing room split

There was once a time when both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were the best of chums, but those Paris Saint-Germain double-act days appear consigned to history.

And there seems no obvious end in sight to the astonishing rift which threatens to derail the new regime under transfer chief Luis Campos and boss Christoph Galtier. Saturday night's stormy 5-2 win over Montpellier appears just a small insight into the warring factions which are raging behind closed doors.

Supporters across the world were engrossed by Mbappe openly campaigning to take the second penalty after he had missed his first spot kick. And that incident appears a microcosm of the issues threatening a potential mutiny with the French capital's marquee club. Neymar is the designated penalty taker when Mbappe is not on the pitch but it's less clear over whether he gets his shot when the France international misfires first time around. And the man who turned down Real Madrid for a new money-spinning deal with PSG sparked more consternation as he was filmed huffing and stopping his run mid-attack after he wasn't given the ball. An unsavoury evening all round.

Now PSG's most expensive ever signings - the season after Maurico Pochettino failed to unite a fractured dressing room - appear on the verge of a ding dong that outdoes any that have gone before. The duo used to lavish praise on each other on a regular basis, now reports state Campos has had both men in for a meeting to iron out their multiple differences.

A key reason why relations have allegedly gone south is due to the added powers Mbappe received after he said no to Madrid. The 23-year-old is understood to have a greater say on personnel decisions and the club's strategy over the coming years. Mbappe's camp insist they aren't agitating for Neymar to be sold but it's becoming evident the two are longer the bosom buddies who once lit up the Parc Des Princes.

And that was never more evident when the duo recently declined on locking arms for a training ground drill - it resulted in Mbappe going with a member of the coaching staff and Neymar linking up with Lionel Messi. Ah, of course, where does the man many believe to be the greatest player of all time fit in? The Barcelona icon retains a strong bond with Neymar due to their exploits in Catalonia. And several reports state Sergio Ramos has been acting as a peacemaker in a bid to mend fences.

In the eyes of some PSG supporters, Neymar has gained a level of sympathy over the ongoing turmoil between two of the most famous footballers on the planet. But the Brazilian risked the wrath of diehards by liking several tweets which appeared anti-Mbappe in nature in the wake of Saturday's penaltygate.

There's two defined camps but can a middle ground be reached? Yes, it remains possible as there is a genuine belief PSG are now starting to play some of the football their Qatari-backed owners believe was missing during last year's pedestrian trudge to the title. Sporting chief Campos also could play an important role. Journalist Julien Laurens stated on the Totally Football Show that the man who helped discover Mbappe at Monaco retains an ear to the world superstar, alongside the player's father.

And let's not rule out Neymar receiving an offer too good to turn down before the window closes. Thomas Tuchel remains a major admirer of his former PSG star pupil and Chelsea appear hell-bent on making a transfer splash. But Neymar may believe remaining at his current club makes sense as he aims to be in peak condition ahead of Brazil's bid for World Cup glory in Qatar.

The furore likely hasn't reached boiling point unless the chastening scenes from the weekend have acted as a catalyst for change. Whatever happens, all eyes will be on PSG's trip to Lille to see what comes next in a drama which rivals the juiciest of box sets.

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