JAKARTA - Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Kylian Mbappe hopes that Italy will qualify for the World Cup. The reason is easy, he is good friends with Marco Verratti.
The Azzurri failed to win the World Cup qualifying group, so they had to qualify for Qatar 2022 via the play-offs. They will face North Macedonia in the semifinals and could meet Turkey or Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the final.
La Gazzetta dello Sport asked Mbappé which team he would like to see in the Qatar World Cup finals, the French star picking Roberto Mancini's side.
"It would be better not to vote, but I make the sentimental aspect win and I say Italy," he was quoted as saying by Football Italia on Thursday.
"First of all, you (Italy) didn't play in the 2018 World Cup and then because Marco (Verratti) only played it once, in 2014, when he was very young and not the top player he is today.
"He deserved to play in the World Cup at the peak of his career. However, if Portugal qualify, it means they will be the better team and there is no reason to complain. Cristiano will be ready to leave his mark."
Verratti is not the only Italian player who is Mbappe's partner at PSG. Donnarumma joined PSG in the summer, but the former Milan goalkeeper is not a regular starter in Paris.
"He's adapted well, obviously it's a new experience for him because there's a top goalkeeper like Keylor Navas.
"Maybe it's not an easy situation for him, but it's good for PSG to have two top goalkeepers. Gigio is the future and the present.
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"I was lucky enough to play with Gigi (Buffon), who has made history. If Donnarumma continues to work hard, he can do the same."
Mbappe's contract expires in the summer and Real Madrid has been linked with securing his services as a free agent. However, the Frenchman was not focused on the market.
"The most important thing is to focus on football, that's what I've been doing in the second half of the year.
"That's the most important thing, everyone knows I'm a top player, so the pitch has to speak. What happens off the pitch doesn't matter.
"We have to deal with this situation as time goes on, but for now it's not a priority."
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