Ibrahim Mbaye has opened up about the pressure he placed on himself during his time at PSG. The Senegalese winger left the club this summer after making his World Cup debut with Senegal, joining Aston Villa in a deal worth around €55 million. Despite wanting more playing time, Mbaye enjoyed a promising season in Paris, featuring in 31 matches and recording three goals and two assists.
Speaking to Cheikh Footstyle, the 18-year-old admitted that he often compared himself with PSG’s biggest stars. “I saw the big players—the Ballon d’Or winner, Désiré (Doué), Bradley (Barcola), Gonçalo (Ramos)—and I told myself: ‘I have to do better than them,’” he explained. Mbaye now recognizes that this mindset created unnecessary pressure and believes he should have focused more on his own game.
The young winger also stressed the importance of learning from experienced teammates. He believes training and playing alongside top players helped him develop, even when he struggled with the pressure. His move to Aston Villa now gives him a fresh opportunity to apply those lessons, gain more regular playing time and continue his development in England.
