Mauricio Pochettino has said Kylian Mbappe needs to leave Paris Saint-Germain so he can evolve and compete for the Ballon d’Or.
Mbappe played under Pochettino before the Argentine was sacked in the summer.
Mbappe has been phenomenal since joining the Parisians in 2017, scoring 190 goals in all competitions, but Pochettino believes a move could benefit his career.
Speaking to El Pais, Pochettino said: “He is on an upward path, and from now on we would have to see the best Mbappe with even better records. Evolution often happens by leaving the comfort zone. Renewing for PSG is good for the club and its fans. But Mbappe in the future will have to consider that leaving his comfort zone will bring him closer to fighting for the Ballon d’Or.”
The Argentine manager also suggested that Mbappe was still immature, comparing him to team-mates Lionel Messi and Neymar. He said: “Mbappe is younger than [Messi and Neymar] and still immature. He is an animal, he has great charisma but still needs to find himself. Leo and Ney are total players, they are more responsible although in different ways. While Kylian keeps looking for himself.”