A former France international claims Kylian Mbappe performs much better for Paris Saint-Germain when Lionel Messi and Neymar are not on the pitch.
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With Messi missing out through Covid-19 in recent weeks and Neymar currently recovering from an ankle injury, Mbappe continues to be the talisman after registering 18 goals and 15 assist this season.
The new attacking trio has not hit its stride just yet following the arrival of Messi in August last year, but Jean-Michel Larque says Mbappe plays better without the other two stars.
"You haven’t noticed that when [Neymar and Messi] are not there [Mbappé] is better?" Jean-Michel Larque asked on Jerome Rothen's show.
"When Neymar was not there this season, that did not take anything away from Mbappé’s progress, and we cannot say, even if Messi remains an extraordinary player, that Messi’s contribution to Mbappé has changed a lot thing.
"The relationship [between Messi and Mbappé] is getting better and better, but during the first six months, it was not exceptional."
See where Mbappe ranks among PSG's highest earners this season: