Lionel Messi's arrival at PSG has 'driven a wedge between Kylian Mbappe and Neymar'

Lionel Messi's arrival at Paris Saint-Germain has driven a wedge between Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, according to reports.

Messi joined the Ligue 1 side in the summer after Barcelona admitted they were unable to pay the superstar's substantial wages.

Fans across the world were excited about the prospect of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar playing alongside each other. But, friction is growing between the trio.

According to L'Equipe, PSG's summer signing has caused a monumental shift in the social dynamic of the dressing room this season.

Among those who have been notably affected is Mbappe. The French star struck up a formidable relationship with Neymar when the Brazilian arrived at the club in 2017.

However, it is believed that Neymar has taken a step back from Mbappe and prioritised his relationship with his former Barcelona team-mate Messi instead.

The rift in their relationship was first evidenced when the pair exchanged a war of words during PSG's clash with Montpellier earlier this year.

Mbappe admitted to calling his team-mate a 'tramp' but later insisted they were fine and that he still 'respected' Neymar.

When asked if he had called Neymar a 'tramp',  Mbappe told L'Equipe: 'Yes, yes, I said it. Now, these are things that happen all the time in football. It just doesn't have to be something left.

'That's why, immediately afterwards, given the extent of it, I spoke with him about it, there must not be a certain resentment.

'There is none at all because I respect the player and the man and I admire what he is.'

However, Messi and Neymar appeared to be absent from Mbappe's 24th birthday bash that saw him surrounded by the likes of Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi.

Mbappe - who is out of contract at the end of the season - was given a PSG shirt with ‘Mbappe 2050’ on the back as a clear indication of how much his team-mates want him to stay at the club.

It remains to be seen as to whether Mbappe will extend his contract at the club - which has reportedly segregated into two separate social groups.

The two groups consist of the French speakers - led by Presnel Kimpembe and Idrissa Geuye - and the Spanish speakers plus their allies, including Marco Verratti and Julian Draxler.

The news of the rift within the PSG dressing room will come as a concern to manager Mauricio Pochettino.