Even in Japan, the ripples from the Mbappé case are reaching the shores of Asia, and Marquinhos’ comments have not been well-received.
Marquinhos tried to remain diplomatic when speaking about the Mbappé situation but didn’t quite succeed. According to RMC Sport, a « more neutral response was expected from the Brazilian defender. Instead, he took some liberties, which was met with mixed feelings in Doha. »
The PSG captain’s remarks were as follows: « We always want to have the great players by our side, and I hope we will find a good solution for him to come back and help us this season. »
RMC Sport reports that Doha, which has « raised its voice » with Mbappé, « didn’t really appreciate Marquinhos’ statements to the media. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi also expressed his disapproval. »
According to the media outlet, the atmosphere in Japan is somewhat awkward, « marked by the shadow of Mbappé. The players are torn between wanting to support their teammate and aligning with their management’s position, according to a source close to the team. And the management’s reaction to Marquinhos’ statement has sowed doubt: the Parisian players are unsure about which stance to adopt in this matter. »