Late Thursday afternoon, the video, which was to be intended only for subscribers of the Parc des Princes, was visible on YouTube, where it is displayed as "not listed" and therefore not available in search results. It had been made unavailable Thursday afternoon before being made available again, without changes.

This video was "not validated by the communication department of PSG" before being published, told AFP a source close to the file, adding that explanations had taken place in the afternoon with the entourage of Mbappe.

"PSG is a big club and a big family but it is especially not the Kylian Saint-Germain," wrote the Parisian star after seeing the promotional campaign where he is featured.

"At no time informed"

"At no time was I informed of the content of the interview with my interlocutor," he added, and "it looked like a basic interview during a club marketing day. I don't agree with this published video."

The French striker says he was never told that this interview would be used for this purpose, knowing that other players were also interviewed that day, his entourage told AFP.

"That's why I'm fighting for individual image rights. PSG is a big club and a big family but it is especially not the Kylian Saint-Germain," concluded the player in a statement.

Mbappe is the only one to speak in the promotional film for the campaign of subscriptions for the 2023-2024 season, which does not feature the other Parisian megastars, Lionel Messi, who could leave the club at the end of his contract in June, nor Neymar, injured.

The promising Parisian "Titis" Warren Zaire-Emery, Ismaël Gharbi and Ilyes Housni as well as the Portuguese international Nuno Mendes appear in the clip, as well as the gardener of the stadium.

Filmed, sitting alone in the stands of the Parc des Princes, Mbappé evokes the supporters. "The 12th man is what brings us extra strength to fight our battles," he said. "To be Parisian is to be proud, of what we are, of what we represent (...) and never forget where you come from."

Kylian Mbappé had already taken a stand to defend the individual image rights of internationals in the France team.

In March 2022, he refused to participate in a photo shoot with the sponsors of the France team, because he denounced the convention that obliged the selected players to submit to the publicity operations of the FFF. He reiterated his remarks at another rally in September 2022.

At PSG, this is not the first time that the French striker has made media appearances against his club. In October, after stressing that he preferred his role in the France team, much freer, than the one he calls himself "pivot" at Paris SG, he had put a little layer back by writing on Instagram this keyword: "#pivotgang" in the wake of the dull match in Reims (0-0).

After two consecutive defeats in Ligue 1 against Rennes and Lyon, PSG, which is now only six lengths ahead of Lens and Marseille, travels to Nice on Saturday.

© 2023 AFP