Mbappé sends Doué soaring, but rejects the easy comparison

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·13 June 2026

Mbappé sends Doué soaring, but rejects the easy comparison

Speaking to L’Équipe, Kylian Mbappé, 27, a Real Madrid forward, offered a nuanced view of Désiré Doué, 21, an attacking midfielder/winger for Paris Saint-Germain. Between acknowledged similarities, clear differences, and the need for time, the former Paris player above all stressed that PSG must support his development without rushing things.

Mbappé: “We’re different”

“People say he looks a lot like me, but we’re different. Of course there are things I see again from when I was younger. He’s a very focused, determined boy. He has already shown that he can be an important player for his teams.”

The comparison between Kylian Mbappé and Désiré Doué is flattering, but it can quickly become a trap. By refusing to project his own path onto the Paris Saint-Germain player, Mbappé puts Doué back on an individual trajectory. The compliment is real: focus, determination, the ability to make an impact for his teams. But the message is clear: Doué has to grow as Doué, not as a miniature copy of Mbappé.

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Mbappé: “He has to be used”

“His best position? Oh! Difficult! That’s a debate that will come later, naturally. For now, he can play in different positions — as an No. 8, on the right, on the left, as a false 9 — and he has to be used.”

This is probably the most interesting point for PSG. Mbappé is not trying to lock Doué into a fixed position — quite the opposite. At this stage of his career, his versatility should remain a strength rather than a problem to solve too quickly. Seeing him able to operate in several areas of the pitch gives Paris Saint-Germain real tactical flexibility, provided versatility is not confused with instability.

Mbappé: “He’s still refining his game”

“He’s still refining his game. At PSG, they’ve understood that well.”

Here, Mbappé stresses an essential element: time. Doué has already shown top-level qualities, but his development is still ongoing. For PSG, the challenge is to give him minutes, gradually increasing responsibility, and a demanding enough framework without trying to artificially speed up every step. The talent is there, but building a major player cannot be done in the microwave, even in Paris.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.