Mbappe's Longstaff shirt swap rejection explained after Newcastle beat PSG
Kylian Mbappe's match-worn shirt from Newcastle v Paris Saint-Germain will not be making it into the hands of Sean Longstaff, with team-mate Kieran Trippier beating the goalscorer to the punch.
Longstaff found the net on a famous night for the Magpies, with French champions PSG beaten 4-1 at St James' Park. Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn and Fabian Schar were also on target, with Lucas Hernandez scoring the visitors' consolation.
After the game, midfielder Longstaff revealed he had asked Mbappe for his shirt and remained hopeful. However, images after the game indicated Trippier had secured the prized possession - despite earlier playing down suggestions he would do so.
“I was blocking him [Mbappe] from a goal-kick so I tried to get it for my little brother," Longstaff told TNT Sports after the win. "So hopefully, I still get it.”
After the game, though, Trippier's son was spotted wearing a PSG shirt. The jersey bore Mbappe's name and number, indicating the England international had secured a swap for the Mbappe-obsessed youngster despite his earlier comments.
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"I was having a bit of banter with my son on Monday, and he said he wanted to walk out with Mbappe instead of me," Trippier said before the match. “I really wasn’t happy with that!
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Sean Longstaff scored Newcastle's third goal against PSG (PA)“He’s obsessed with him, always watching his clips on YouTube," the right-back continued. "I said to him, ‘If you get to walk out with Mbappe, you don’t look at me in the tunnel!’ Everyone is going to want his shirt, that is normal, but it’s not crossed my mind - I want the three points!”
The victory over PSG means Newcastle sit atop their Champions League group after two games. PSG are still second, after beating Borussia Dortmund in Paris in their opener, with AC Milan third after a pair of goalless draws and Dortmund propping up the table.
"I think we knew it was going to be special with the atmosphere but for me and Burny [Dan Burn] to score on a night like tonight is pretty surreal," Longstaff added. "I am lost for words really.
"I think, to be honest, there are some of us that thought three years ago we were probably out of the door and it wasn't a great place to be. I am so proud to be from Newcastle and I am over the moon."
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also praised the home support, telling CBS Sports (via BBC Sport ): "In every team talk I mention the crowd because they are so powerful,". "If we don't use the crowd and [instead] play a style of football where they are not going to be involved in the game we are missing a trick.
"We try and use their energy to help the players implement what we want. I am delighted for the club and the supporters what they gave us tonight was incredible."
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