"I'm with Kylian Mbappé every day, he never talked to me about leaving in January," Campos told Canal+ before this Champions League match.

"It's not a statement from the player, it's information (from the press), and having such information before a match like this is very serious, that's why I'm here, it's is to deny and say clearly that Kylian Mbappé never spoke to me or the president (Nasser Al-Khelaïfi) about leaving PSG in January.

The speech of Campos, a few minutes before the reception of Benfica Lisbon at the Parc des Princes (9 p.m.), was eagerly awaited while the Parisian club had been buzzing for several hours with a crazy rumor, that of a weariness of Mbappé vis- vis-à-vis its leaders, just five months after his contract extension with great fanfare when he was openly coveted by Real Madrid.

Paved in the pond

If Campos pleaded destabilization ("We are a few hours away from a very important match, it's very serious"), several media have nevertheless relayed the thesis of a player's ill-being, a sign that the entourage of Mbappé may have wanted to throw a stone into the pond by leaking the player's fed up in the Spanish and French media.

The problem dates back to the summer and follows Mbappé's contract extension until 2025, with the promise of being at the heart of the Parisian project.

PSG star Kylian Mbappé upon his arrival for a PSG training session on October 10, 2022 at Camp des Loges FRANCK FIFE AFP

During tough negotiations, Mbappé and his advisers had notably received the oral promise that the club would recruit a world-class striker, for example Robert Lewandowski, who eventually left Bayern for Barça, to allow him to evolve around him. , more free, and to give its full measure offensively.

But this great number 9 did not come, as admitted by coach Christophe Galtier and sports adviser Campos, very close to Mbappé since the prodigy's 14 years in Monaco.

The Portuguese leader, who also seems tired of the situation, spoke on RMC last month, and the PSG coach recalled this missed transfer window on Monday at a press conference.

On the club side, we assure that the player will not leave for the winter transfer window, insisting on the fact that Liverpool, candidate to welcome him according to the Spanish daily Marca, is experiencing some financial difficulties and is far from qualifying places for the next Champions League.

© 2022 AFP