Kylian Mbappe branded ‘self-entitled’ and ‘egotistical’ after Paris Saint-German star refuses to be photographed with France teammates amid dispute over image rights

Danny Murphy has branded superstar Kylian Mbappe 'self-entitled' and 'egotistical' following his dispute with France over his image rights.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward backed out of his national team's photoshoot due to issues with the use of his image rights with certain sponsors.

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This follows a boycott in March this year with the 23-year-old not happy about his image being used by sponsors such as betting companies and fast food brands.

With Mbappe donating all of the money that he earns from sponsorship with the France national team to charity, there are question marks around the reason for his protest.

However according to Danny Murphy, the player should be putting his teammates above everything else.

Asked if players have a right to say what their image is aligned to, Murphy told White and Jordan: “To a degree, but it’s a step too far for me.

“It’s a little bit self-entitled. It’s a little bit egotistical.

“Look, you’ve been picked to play for your country, it’s a team picture together as you prepare for whatever tournament, together with the lads, and you decide because you’re a superstar not to take part.

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“I think he’s been advised. I don’t think he’s come to this conclusion on his own, studying the brands and thinking ‘this is going to be used by brands A, B and C and therefore it’s going to damage my reputation’.

“If you’re playing for your country and you’re proud to do so then having a team picture is the least that you can do. I mean, come on.”

Murphy added: “Is it more important than being with the players for your international team and showing your togetherness and being part of a team?

“Is it more important that your picture might be associated with a betting brand, it doesn’t mean you have to bet does it? It’s a knock-on effect of playing for your country.

“I just think, come on, get over yourself. I love Mbappe, but come on.”

Simon Jordan also weighed in on the topic, saying: “Domestically it will form part of your contract.

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“We’ve moved to a stage where footballers have huge commercial value outside of just kicking a football. Sometimes it’s perplexing to think why, but it is. They’re perceived to be influencers.

“I think that this is a case of the lunatics running the asylum and a player having so much influence and power and being afforded that, that he seems to believe that he’s now bigger than the country he plays for.

“If French football have deemed that the commercial benefits of a variety of different sponsors enhance the opportunity for French football, because it’s a French Football Federation proposition and that money is funnelled back into French football for whatever purpose, but a lot of it is grassroots development, who is god’s name is Mbappe to dictate who does what and when?

“They have to be stronger with the player. They have to be stronger with the consequences of the player’s actions because as good as the player is, you can’t allow someone to be more powerful than the underlying value set that is the French national side.”