Christophe Galtier speaks with Presnel Kimpembe over vice-captaincy concerns | OneFootball

After his comments regarding Kylian Mbappé’s new-found PSG vice-captaincy, defender Presnel Kimpembe, who previously held the role, has spoken with manager Christophe Galtier to clear the air, according to L’Équipe.

Kimpembe had taken to social media to indicate that he had not been informed of the decision to make the forward the club’s vice-captain, with Mbappé taking up the armband during the Coupe de France tie against Pays de Cassel. Galtier had explained after the 7-0 win that this was the case since the start of the season – despite Kimpembe being vice-captain since 2020, when Marquinhos was promoted after Thiago Silva’s departure.

A source close to Galtier has indicated that the manager meant to explain that there are four vice-captains – Mbappé, Kimpembe, Marco Verratti and Sergio Ramos. Only Mbappé and Ramos were in the squad for the cup tie, and as a result of the Frenchman’s seniority at the club he was named captain for the evening.

At the start of the season, Galtier had only confirmed Marquinhos as his captain, with Kimpembe taking the armband for games in which the Brazilian was absent, Verratti being the skipper on the one occasion when both were away. Galtier has spoken with Kimpembe to explain that the four vice-captains are considered equals, and the issue is now considered resolved by both sides.

The fact that Mbappé provisionally accepted the armband on Monday night also signals a shift, in that he was offered the prospect of becoming captain during last year’s contract renewal talks, and declined. Kimpembe’s ongoing injury issues hampering his season, and the uncertain fate of his extension negotiations, appear to have seen him lose some stature and consider his future at the club.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin