Mbappe In Fresh Clash After Neymar, Messi Fallout

KYLIAN Mbappe’s appointment as the new vice-captain of Paris Saint-Germain has appeared not to go down well with the squad with Presnel Kimpembe now speaking out.

Mbappe faces a fresh problem in the Paris Saint-Germain dressing room a er Kimpembe confirmed he was “not made aware” of the striker replacing him as the club’s vice-captain.

Mbappe captained Les Parisiens and he ne ed a club-record five-goal haul in their 7-0 thrashing of French sixth- er minnows US Pays de Cassel on Monday.

He led the team out for the first me in the absence of club captain Marquinhos with his increased status at the club, following his new threeyear contract penned last May.

PSG boss, Christophe Gal er explained:

“I decided that he is the second captain since the beginning of the season, he deserves to have this armband when Marquinhos is not there because he has decided to stay.”

However, that decision was not communicated to Kimpembe, who had previously held the status.

“In the last few hours, I have been able to hear and read a lot about myself,” Kimpembe wrote on Instagram.

“I therefore wish to make things clear in order to avoid con nuing to spread false informa on in this regard. I was not made aware of this deci-

Barcelona To Register Gavi After Memphis Depay’s Departure - Report

BARCELONA are reportedly set to register Gavi as a firstteam player and hand him No 6 shirt, following Memphis Depay’s departure. Gavi signed a new contract earlier this season but it had been thought he had have to wait un l the end of the campaign to be officially registered with the senior squad.

However, Cope are repor ng that Barca are hoping to be able to reg- ister Gavi in the coming days and are just wai ng for the green light from La Liga.

Barca seem to have a li le wiggle room a er seeing Memphis Depay depart for Atle co. It seems unlikely a replacement will arrive which means renewals are the focus instead.

Gavi looks to be the priority, if the report proves to be correct, although Barca also s ll need to register Ron- ald Araujo with the first team.

The Catalans are also keen to hand Alejandro sion, this is completely false. That said, I will always respect the decisions of the club.”

Balde a new deal as soon as finances allow but that might have to wait un l the summer.

The decision to install Mbappe as vice-captain also notably overlooked Lionel Messi for the role – the Argen ne had captained Barcelona for three seasons but does not hold similar status in Paris. Mbappe directed one of his goal celebra ons in the World Cup final in front of Messi, hin ng at heightened tensions between the two.

Mbappe, PSG’s only representa ve in the French World Cup squad, was mocked by Argen na goalkeeper, Emi Mar nez in the victors’ celebra ons a er the final. Mbappe was given me off by the club as they honoured Messi’s triumph upon his return to further add fuel to sugges ons of a fractured rela onship.