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Julien Laurens says Mbappe ‘betrayed’ by PSG & £35.5 West Ham transfer played its part

Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images
Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images
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Julien Laurens has explained how West Ham United summer signing Gianluca Scamacca’s failed transfer to PSG has played its part in Kylian Mbappe being left ‘betrayed’, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (11/10/22 at 7:15 pm).

The French journalist broke the news that Mbappe wants to leave PSG during the January transfer window because promises have been broken – he only signed a big-money contract in the summer. 

When the 23-year-old put pen-to-paper on a new deal, you can imagine the stupid amount of money he was offered and the so-called powers that were handed to the player.

Gianluca Scamacca
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Well, it seems as though Mbappe, amongst other issues, wanted PSG to sign a ‘number nine’, with West Ham’s new star, Scamacca, one of the players on the club’s radar.

But prior to the Italian striker heading to the London Stadium for £35.5 million (Sky Sports), according to Laurens PSG couldn’t ‘find an agreement’ with Sassuolo for the striker. 

Whilst Scamacca, who scored during West Ham’s win over Fulham over the weekend, thrives in England, things are seemingly falling apart at the club he could have joined.

“His point of view is very much ‘this is not my best position. I can play there and do well there, but I would rather play off a striker, with more freedom, like Messi and Neymar have behind me’,” said Laurens.

“He said that he was promised they would sign a number nine. They tried Lewandowski. He only wanted Barcelona. They tried Scamacca, but they couldn’t find an agreement with Sassuolo. They signed Ekitike, who is good but not ready. 

“Certainly the feeling he has right now that the promises weren’t kept and he has made his mind up and he wants to go.”

SL Benfica v Paris Saint-Germain: Group H - UEFA Champions League
Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images

BLESSING IN DISGUISE FOR SCAMACCA

Of course, moving to the French champions and joining a team in the Champions League would have been a step up, in terms of level, for Scamacca compared to West Ham.

But, at the end of the day, he should see this move to East London as a blessing in disguise because PSG doesn’t seem like the type of club to progress your career.

The egos of certain individuals are through the roof, managers are sacked as soon as they can’t get past the semi-finals of the Champions League and they seem more like a group of individuals than a team. 

At West Ham, not only will Scamacca start on a regular basis, but he will be part of an environment that will help progress his career.