Former Spurs star Benoit Assou-Ekotto fuels spat with Kylian Mbappe over African heritage
Mbappe was born in France to parents of Cameroonian and Algerian descent, but opted to play for France and the former Spurs defender has questioned how bothered the forward is about his African roots
Ex-Tottenham full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto has reignited his spat with Kylian Mbappe.
The 34-year-old Metz player called out the Paris Saint-Germain star earlier this year on social media by suggesting the French World Cup winner does not care that much about his African heritage.
Mbappe, 19, like Assou-Ekotto, was born in France to parents of Cameroonian and Algerian descent, but, unlike the full-back, opted to represent his country of birth at international level.
The forward spoke publicly about his desire to honour his family's roots by helping to develop the game in Africa during a meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron and Liberian president George Weah.
But Assou-Ekotto was having none of it and let rip on social media.
He tweeted: “European players of African origin who hold Africa in their hearts and who want to help the sport in Africa… blah, blah, blah… while rushing to play for a European national team make me chuckle.
Most read in Football
“It looks good when you have a cause though.”
His outburst sparked a sarcastic response from the young attacker on Twitter.
And the defender who spent nine years at White Hart Lane has now reopened the debate about identity in multi-cultural France.
He told : “Put yourself in the place of the players from Cameroon.
“You, a French player are going to come to develop us… Stay at home, help your guys in Bondy, in your neighbourhood, in your France.
“Yes, you love Africa, but you never go there.
“So what's the story? Yes, you love your wife, but you go out with another.
“It's a game I know, manipulate public opinion, blah, blah blah.”