Just after having initialed his commitment with the club of the capital in May, at the end of a planetary soap opera, the French striker had promised to concentrate only on the ground and not to cannibalize attention.

But everything now revolves around the one that President Nasser Al-Khelaifi presented as the "cornerstone" of the new PSG.

In Japan where the team is in preparation and must face Urawa Red Diamonds on Saturday (12:00 p.m.) in a friendly match, Mbappé must still share the top of the bill with the Messi-Neymar duo, very popular in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The French team of Paris Saint-Germain, with its three stars Lionel Messi (left), Kylian Mbappé (center) and Neymar (right), during a reception in a hotel in Tokyo on Tuesday.

TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA, Toshifumi KITAMURA AFP

But the boss is him and each of his appearances is an event, like the surprise one made on Thursday at the Kodokan, the temple of judo in Tokyo.

The native of Bondy (23 years old) was not initially planned in the program of this visit, carried out in the company of Teddy Riner, member of the judo section of PSG.

But Mbappé also wanted to be part of it, attracting attention and totally eclipsing his six other teammates present.

gondola head

All this increases the demands on him tenfold.

The season will be busy and the responsibilities even heavier for the head of the gondola of the club, which will have no room for error.

Propelled to the highest salary in the locker room, he will have the immense task of leading his people to European heights, an undertaking in which Paris again failed last March in the great widths after being liquefied in the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League on the lawn of Real Madrid (3-1).

With 39 goals and 21 assists with PSG in all competitions, Mbappé has more than held his rank in 2021-2022, keeping a soulless team afloat under Mauricio Pochettino.

But he will be obliged to do at least as well.

Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé with his former coach, Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino, during the Ligue 1 match between Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) and Nantes at the Parc des Princes on November 20, 2021. FRANCK FIFE AFP

His extension was doubled by the arrival of the Luis Campos-Christophe Galtier team in the sports management and, with the appointment as football adviser of the Portuguese, close to his parents, "Kyky" knows he is on conquered ground in within a project less "bling-bling" and more focused on the discipline.

"I understand the club's message, it's the message that was sent to me too, he said on June 24 on BFM. It's really the will of the club, I'm just getting into this that project. Great things are going to happen. The last two seasons, we were less scary, we were less untouchable."

Argument

His retention in the workforce is also a relief for his comrades, aware of having with the French an unparalleled lethal weapon.

"We are very happy that he has stayed with us, for the player he is and the person he is, Pablo Sarabia told AFP. I think this is a step that brings us closer to the end. victory in the Champions League."

The World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18), where France will defend their title, will be the other highlight of their season.

Despite the League of Nations gleaned last October, Mbappé (27 goals in 57 selections) remained marked by the failure of the Blues at the Euro and his missed shot on goal against Switzerland in the round of 16 (3-3 ap, 5 tab to 4).

France team striker Kylian Mbappé during the Nations League match between France and Austria (1-1) in Vienna on June 10.

Joe Klamar AFP

The subject remains sensitive as evidenced by his spat in June with the president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët, guilty in his eyes of not having taken into account the racism of which he says he was the victim after the elimination .

Mbappé is also on the front line to try to change the management of image rights in the France team.

As usual, he was not afraid to expose himself, even if it meant adding additional pressure.

But that's also how you recognize the bosses.

© 2022 AFP