From dominating at the FIFA World Cup to starring on the front cover of FIFA 21, 22 and 23, Kylian Mbappe has been the golden boy of football for a few years now. And for good reason. His pace, elite finishing, and playful skill set make him dangerous for any team to play against—and he is a vital asset for any team to have on their side.
While Mbappe has been a cornerstone of Paris Saint-Germain for years now, their time is up. With their star player moving to Real Madrid, there’s one question: how are PSG going o deal with Mbappe?
Let’s take a look at the options.
Replacing a Superstar
Let’s be realistic. There’s no simple way to replace one of the world’s most sought-after players. When Messi left Barcalona or Ronaldo left Real Madrid, there wasn’t a simple way to swap in a new superstar player. After all, we’re talking about players who have reputations larger than entire football teams. So replacing Mbappe with another superstar presence is unlikely.
On a practical level, PSG are going to need to replace Mbappe’s skill set, not (just) his personality or star image. That means they’re going to need to look for a variety of talents—striking ability, creativity, speed and more. Let’s take a look at some of the options.
Option 1 – A Speedy Successor
One of Mbappe’s most valuable assets is his pace and dribbling ability. He is the type of player who can get the ball and quickly weave his way through the opponents’ defence then, once through, there’s no chance of catching up with him. While Mbappe’s ability to do this is certainly electric, it’s worth noting that this technique is no unique to Mbappe. Players like Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have already been brought up in the debate. Not that Kvaratskhelia possesses Mbappe’s entire skillset, but his pace could certainly rival Mbappe.
Ultimately, Speed is one of Mbappe’s best assets which has made PSG a force to be reckoned with. So it’s likely the management will want to keep this asset, even when Mbappe jumps ship.
Option 2 – A Creative Catalyst
Beyond speed, Mbappe is great to watch simply because he’s an incredibly creative footballer. Much like his older peers—Neymar Jr, Messi and Ronaldo—Mbappe brings a bunch of personality and flair to the pitch which make him electric to watch. While these players are all stars with exceptional individual skill, playmaking hasn’t generally been in their toolbox. In this way, PSG may want to change course: opting for a creative playmaker to take Mbappe’s place.
Such a playmaker would act as a lubricant for the team’s other skilled players, opening up a more tactical approach for the squad. PSG has reportedly already shown interest in players like Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho for this exact reason. While they’re not equivalent to Mbappe in their skill set, their inclusion in the squad would open up a whole new way for PSG to play.
Option 3 – A Homegrown Hero
Beyond being a great player, Mbappe is also a French player. For a French squad like PSG, this is actually a big deal as in brings fans from all over the nation to support the club, and ties it closer with the soil on which it stands. Thus, PSG may opt to nurture a new local talent as their next star, replacing the home-grown nature of Mbappe. Youngster Arnaud Kalimuendo has already impressed the team since being on loan to them, so he could be next in line.
That said, embracing a younger and less experienced talent is a risky play for the club.
The Verdict: A Dynamic Future
PSG is going to need to reinvent themselves without Mbappe. He has been both a powerful star image and an electric player, which the club has relied on for years now. Without him, many fans will want the club to prove themselves with something exciting and fresh but, ultimately, still performant. In other words, it’s going to be a decisive moment in the club’s recent history which we are going to have to wait to see unfold.
Fortunately, if you’re a fan of FIFA or FC, you’re lucky. Unlike PSG, you don’t have to deal with any of this nightmare of replacing Mbappe… You can simply keep him in your ultimate team, even though he’s changing club and league. Of course, getting Mbappe’s digital likeness doesn’t come cheap—being one of the most sought-after cards in Ultimate Team. But that’s where bolstering your supply of FC coins comes in—after all you can simply buy FC coins—allowing you to grab Mbappe without needing to grind out the hours.
