Kylian Mbappé cemented his status as one of the world’s best players this summer.
Diego Simeone has revealed that he would rather have Neymar in his team than Kylian Mbappe. For years, it has been widely accepted that Neymar will be the next player outside the Messi and Ronaldo duopoly to win a Ballon d’Or, but Kylian Mbappé’s meteoric rise has put a spanner in the works.
Mbappé has already won two Ligue 1 titles and a World Cup before turning 20. At that age, Neymar was still playing in Brazil. The duo will certainly go on to dominate awards in the post-Ronaldo and Messi era, but for now, it’s clear who is the superior player, according to Diego Simeone.
The Atlético Madrid coach believes that Neymar brings more to the team, and that Mbappé is individualistic on the pitch.
Asked by Cadena COPE which of the players he would prefer, Simeone replied:
“Neymar. In the Barcelona team of Luis Enrique, when he needed to work, he worked. Mbappe is more individualistic and doesn’t have a definitive role. Neymar has a fixed position.”
The 2014/15 season, when Luis Enrique led Barcelona to a treble, with Neymar playing on the left of their front three, was arguably the best season Neymar has had since making the move to Europe. His chemistry with Messi and Luis Suarez on and off the pitch was clear and made them an unstoppable force.
He was also more willing to work, as Simeone points out. However, it would be difficult to say the same of Neymar during his time at PSG.
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