Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe was visibly irked at his weekend substitution, engaging manager Thomas Tuchel in a discussion as he left the pitch.
The pair spoke briefly, with hands covering mouths, before Mbappe took his place on the subs’ bench – but the fallout has rumbled on after the weekend.
PSG won the game, 5-0 against nine-man Montpellier, with Mbappe scoring the fourth ten minutes before he was subbed off.
French media outlet Le Parisien report that talks were then held on Sunday between Tuchel and Leonardo, former PSG player and current sporting director, with the squad also later involved.
It was suggested that the atmosphere in the talks was “peaceful,” but also that the relationship between Mbappe and his boss remains tense.
Part of the reasoning for Mbappe’s unhappiness stems from the fact he is the earliest, and most-often, subbed player of PSG’s attacking quartet.
The 21-year-old and strike-partner Mauro Icardi have both been replaced more times than the duo who play in supporting attacking midfield roles behind them, Neymar and Angel Di Maria, and it is Mbappe whose number is habitually shown earlier on the fourth official’s board.
Against that is the idea that Tuchel is trying to keep his key forward fit and ready for the resumption of the Champions League, with PSG desperate for European honours after several seasons of underperformance in that area.
PSG have an eight-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 and should comfortably retain their domestic title, leaving the challenge of conquering Europe as Tuchel’s priority.
Mbappe has been linked with Real Madrid and Liverpool, and though his enormous price tag is naturally a hindrance to the likelihood of any such move this summer, suggestions of a rift between he and the head coach will only serve to fuel rumours of a move ahead of Euro 2020.
