Luis Enrique Strongly Indicates That Kylian Mbappe Will Be Leaving Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique Strongly Indicates That Kylian Mbappe Will Be Leaving Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain’s head coach, Luis Enrique, appears to have given strong indication that Kylian Mbappe will depart the club this summer, expressing his best wishes for the forward.
Mbappe was named on the bench for PSG’s Ligue 1 match against Reims on Sunday afternoon and didn’t enter the game until the 73rd minute, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Despite the 25-year-old’s impressive record of 34 goals and seven assists in 35 appearances for the French champions this season, including a recent brace against Real Sociedad in the Champions League, he hasn’t featured in a Ligue 1 match since early February. Enrique’s comments after the Reims clash seem to confirm Mbappe’s imminent departure.
“I extend my best wishes to Kylian Mbappe for his future endeavors. He’s not only a remarkable player but also an exceptional person. I genuinely wish him all the best,” Enrique shared with Amazon Prime Video.
Mbappe has communicated to PSG his decision not to renew his contract with the club, indicating that he will become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
Real Madrid are widely considered the frontrunners to secure the services of the former Monaco prodigy on a free transfer, despite reports of interest from the Premier League and Saudi Arabia.
In Ligue 1 this season, Mbappe has netted 21 goals and provided four assists in 23 appearances, contributing significantly to PSG’s current 10-point lead over second-placed Brest.
Additionally, the forward has scored six goals in eight Champions League matches, aiding PSG in reaching the quarter-finals of the competition following their victory over Real Sociedad.
It appears that Enrique will use Mbappe sparingly in league matches due to PSG’s significant lead, but the forward will continue to play a crucial role for the club in the Champions League.
According to a recent report, PSG had identified Barcelona’s 16-year-old attacker Lamine Yamal as the potential replacement for Mbappe. However, Barcelona allegedly swiftly rejected PSG’s €200m (£170m) offer, indicating that the Catalan club is unwilling to part ways with Yamal under any circumstances.
Former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has suggested that if Mbappe joins Real Madrid this summer, the Spanish club could dominate both European and domestic football for the next “six or seven years”.
