Mbappe: Neymar is the centre of PSG's project

Posted Tuesday, February 02, 2021 by Marca.com

Kylian Mbappe has lavished Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar with praise and feels the Brazilian is the centre to the club's project.

The pair have struck up a close relationship both on and off the pitch in the French capital since both arriving at the club in 2017.

"I've always thought that great players were made to play together - and that's clear between us two," Mbappe told France Football when asked about Neymar.

"Our roles were established when I arrived in Paris: Neymar is the centre of the project and I'm here to help him.

"[This is] because when I arrived at PSG, I was only an emerging star and I had to prove myself on the pitch."

Neymar signed for PSG for a record 222 million euros in the summer of 2017 and has clearly impressed his teammates since."

Neymar knows how to do everything," Mbappe added. "He's the best in the world.

"When he arrived in Paris, we realised everything he could do. He's not a player simply for putting on a show and dancing when you're winning 5-0. He also knows how to do spectacular things at 0-0.

"I don't know if everyone is aware, but Neymar understands everything. He has an instinct that makes him know how to do everything straight away."

Former Monaco forward Mbappe also arrived at PSG for big money during the same summer as Neymar.

"To be honest, away from those arrogant kid traits, I'll never forget how he helped me at the start," Mbappe said of the Brazilian. "When you're 18 and you come into a big dressing room, it's never easy.

"In these great teams, 60 percent of your success depends on your football and the other 40 percent on how you acclimatise to the dressing room. He helped me and I'll never forget it."