The departures of Lassana Diarra and Gianluigi Buffon from Paris Saint-Germain had a major influence says Kylian Mbappe.
When Diarra’s PSG deal was terminated by mutual consent, he lasted just a year at the Parc des Princes, confirming his retirement in February 2019.
In 2009 the graduate from Le Havre academy left Real Madrid before that he played for Chelsea, Arsenal, and Portsmouth.
Following his release before joining PSG, Diarra joined Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates and went to Marseille for 18 months after spending some time in Russia with Anzhi Makhachkala and Lokomotiv Moscow.
During the 2018-19 season before moving back to Juventus on a free transfer Buffon played for PSG. Mbappe appreciated the guidance from Diarra and also the involvement of World Cup champion Buffon.
“He was Uncle Lass, a big brother you could count on,” Mbappe told L’Equipe. “He often told me about his career, his clubs. He made mistakes, so he advised me.”
“He helped me during complicated times. The high level – he knows what he is talking about. He went to a lot of clubs all over the place. He left home very early, and alone. I always liked listening to elders. Buffon was also very important to me.”
“But Lass wasn’t just talking to me. He also spent a lot of time with Presnel Kimpembe. And he always played this role even when he was not playing. That is very important.”
“Lassana was highly respected in the dressing room. It did something to me to see him go. It also did something to me to see Buffon go.”
In April in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, as the season was curtailed, PSG has proclaimed Ligue 1 champions.
In August they’ll return to play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
