Christophe Galtier: 'Kylian Mbappe is not above Paris Saint-Germain'

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier has insisted that Kylian Mbappe is not "above the club".

The 23-year-old has again been in excellent form for the French champions during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 19 goals and registering five assists in 20 appearances in all competitions.

Mbappe was widely expected to leave PSG to join Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer, but he ultimately signed a new deal with the Ligue 1 giants.

The France international's future is again being called into question, with Manchester United thought to view him as a potential replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.

There have also been suggestions that Mbappe has an influential role at the club behind the scenes, but Galtier has insisted that the attacker "is at the same level as all the other players".

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"He embodies the project, there can be no doubt. But when I say that he embodies the project, it is not that he is above the club,'' Galtier told RMC Sport.

''Kylian is at the same level as all the other players. On the same level as Leo Messi who has an incredible career, who is the greatest player in the history of football. Kylian is on the same level as Neymar.''

Despite the recent speculation, Mbappe recently suggested that he is planning to stay with the French champions on a long-term basis.

"In Paris, the page is completely blank. What an opportunity! You have to think differently. Of course, it was easier to go to Madrid," Mbappe told Sports Illustrated.

"But I have this ambition. I'm French. I'm a child of Paris, and to win in Paris, it's something really special, really special. It writes your name in the history of your country for life.

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"You can stay here to have success. For us it's a big message, because when I announced I stay, a lot of things change in the mentality of people. People start to say, 'Yeah, we don't need to go out. You don't need to leave the country.'"

Mbappe has won four Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France trophies and two Coupe de la Ligue crowns since making the move to PSG from Monaco.

Meanwhile, he has represented PSG on 236 occasions in all competitions, scoring 189 goals and providing 93 assists, including 34 goals and 26 assists in 50 Champions League matches.

Mbappe is currently with the France squad preparing for the World Cup, with Didier Deschamps's side opening their tournament against Australia on November 22.