Forward Ousmane Dembélé responded to comments made by his French national team teammate Kylian Mbappé, although without directly mentioning him. The exchange of words comes in the context of an implicit rivalry between the two Paris Saint-Germain players.
Dembélé stated that "he was never the chosen one" and that he had to work intensely to reach his current level. This statement appears to be an indirect response to previous comments from Mbappé, who reportedly spoke about his privileged position at the club.
Both players represent the French national team and share the attack at PSG, where Mbappé has historically been the central figure of the sporting project. Dembélé, for his part, joined the Parisian club in 2017 and has sought to establish himself as an indispensable player in the team.
The exchange of statements reflects underlying tensions between two players with different profiles within the French team, where Dembélé seeks to demonstrate that his place was earned through hard work and not through favoritism.
