PSG star Kylian Mbappé hopes Italy qualify for the World Cup and admits Gigio Donnarumma’s situation at PSG is ‘not easy.’
The Azzurri failed to win the World Cup qualification group, so they must qualify for Qatar 2022 through the play-offs.
They will face North Macedonia in the semi-finals and could meet Turkey or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the Final.
La Gazzetta dello Sport asked Mbappé whether he’d like Italy or Portugal to qualify and the French star picked Roberto Mancini’s men.
“It would be better not to choose, but I make the sentimental aspect prevail and I say Italy,” he said.
“First of all, you [Italy] didn’t play the World Cup in 2018 and then because Marco [Verratti] has only played it once, in 2014, when he was very young and not the top player he is today.
“He deserves to play the World Cup at the peak of his career. However, if Portugal qualify, it means they’d be the better team and there will be no reason to complain. Cristiano will be ready to leave the mark.”
Verratti is not Mbappé’s only Italian teammate. Gigio Donnarumma joined PSG in the summer, but the former Milan goalkeeper is not a regular starter in Paris.
“He’s settled in well, clearly this is a new experience for him because there is a top goalkeeper such as Keylor Navas.
“Perhaps, this is not an easy situation for him, but it’s good for PSG to have two top goalkeepers. Gigio is the future and the present.
“I was lucky enough to play with Gigi [Buffon], who has made history. If Donnarumma continues to work hard he could do the same.”
Mbappé’s contract expires in the summer and Real Madrid have been strongly linked with securing his services as a free agent. However, the Frenchman is not focused on the market.
“The most important thing is to focus on football, that’s what I’ve done in the second part of the year.
“It’s the most important thing, everybody knows I am a top player, so the pitch must do the talking. What happens off the pitch doesn’t matter.
“We’ll have to face this situation because time passes, but for now this is not a priority.”
#Mbappé: ‘Spero di trovare l’#Italia al #Mondiale. Per #Donnarumma al #Psg non è una situazione facile. Il rinnovo…' https://t.co/jsxiZxM0jP pic.twitter.com/SNjM4pXNgK
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) December 29, 2021
And if he was interviewed by Portuguese media, he’d say them.