​The penalty in last weekend’s game brought the controversy between the superstars back to the fore and it looks like the strained relationship will mar the atmosphere in the PSG dressing room since the start of the season.

Mbappe turned down Real, preferring to sign a contract with PSG, but the joy at the club evaporated rather quickly. Sources say the French striker is unhappy that his influence behind closed doors has not grown as he had hoped. He feels Neymar is gaining influence among teammates, including Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, and is not enjoying the status promised to him by the club’s management.

A crisis has dogged PSG in their first season under coach Christophe Gaultier, with players distancing themselves from each other rather than joining ranks as they try to bring the Champions League crown to the capital.

Why is Mbappe angry?

He is troubled by his secondary role in the dressing room hierarchy compared to what he believes he deserves. He is upset that Neymar, after a brilliant start to the campaign, is increasing his influence.

The Brazilian seemed determined to leave the Parc des Princes, but in the end he made it loud and clear that he is staying and intends to improve his level. Neymar has scored three goals and provided three assists in his first two Ligue 1 games and his efforts in training have impressed his team-mates.

Mbappe considered Neymar his closest ally, but that seems to have changed.

Questionable behavior from Montpellier

In the match, which was won with a comfortable score of 5-2, two incidents attracted attention.

Mbappe argued with Neymar about a penalty after the miss and then appeared to give up on the counter-attack after a missed pass.

Before the start of the season, Gauthier established the order of penalty kicks: Mbappé – No. 1, and Neymar – No. 2, if the Frenchman is no longer on the field or even if he is fouled. The Brazilian was unhappy, but eventually agreed, and the scheme worked in the pre-season.

But in the mentioned match, Mbappe did not realize the penalty. After 20 minutes, handball in the Montpellier penalty area led to another penalty. Neymar took the ball, despite the intervention of Mbappe, punched and punched. The rest of the time, the Frenchman looked upset, although he scored and the team played well.

This is a long-standing problem for PSG since the arrival of Neymar from Barcelona five years ago. In the 2017-18 season, the first “penalty gate” between Neymar and Edinson Cavani polluted the dressing room; a small problem, but one that did not go away and was not solved by Unai Emery, the coach at the time.

This time everything is different. After the match, the new sporting director, Luis Campos, intervened authoritatively, reminding the players that they must follow the rules set by the coach. He criticized the Brazilian for discussing team issues on social media rather than raising them in the dressing room.

Campos has known Mbappe since he was 14 and they have a strong relationship. When Gauthier said after the match that there was no mistake when Neymar converted the second penalty after Mbappe had missed the first, he knew Campos would play the “bad cop” role.

Both players said that they have forgotten about the incident and there is nothing between them. But in a star-studded dressing room, the two greats must maintain harmony for PSG to have a successful season. Gauthier and Campos will have to find a way to get them on that path.

Both will start the game at Lille on Sunday and their every move, reaction and word will be scrutinised.

Sources: Goal.com, ESPN