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Dave Appadoo thinks that the absence of Karim Benzema will allow Kylian Mbappé to emancipate himself. The journalist from L’Équipe believes that the PSG striker aims to become an undisputed leader of the French selection.
At the microphone of the chain The Team, Dave Appadoo spoke about the absence of Karim Benzema at the World Cup. The journalist thinks it’s a good thing for Kylian Mbappé: “I don’t think Mbappé is reacting to his career in relation to Karim Benzema’s injury. His reflection is on something else, Mbappé is a fan of American sport, and in particular of basketball where there is the notion of “franchise player”. He is the one on whom everything rests above all. He’s not the only one, but he’s the first to take responsibility. He is a fan of that, he admires these American athletes and we have seen him get closer to LeBron James. It is a culture that speaks to him and we have often seen him go to the United States. »
“The situation gives him extra motivation”
Appadoo doesn’t think the Real Madrid player’s absence will hurt the Blues’ competitiveness: “The fact that Benzema is not there, mechanically, the France team is weakening since there is less of the Ballon d’Or. But Mbappé from an early age asks to have these responsibilities, sometimes even at PSG. Sometimes even publicly. Sometimes even before time. Well now is the time. This situation, I’m not saying he’s happy about it, but it doesn’t scare him and gives him extra motivation. Not at Benzema’s expense, but because he feels he has an additional responsibility. »
23-year-old Kylian Mbappé currently has 59 caps for 28 goals. The Parisian made his debut with Les Bleus in March 2017, aged 18, 3 months and 5 days.
