No suspense: his coach Luis Enrique, who has regularly placed him on the bench in recent months, assured that the star striker of the France team would play on Sunday evening, even if the Ligue 1 title has already been acquired. And this, despite the weakened links between the club management and the superstar, since Mbappé announced last summer that he would not activate the extension clause in his contract.
The top scorer in PSG history
The top scorer in PSG history (255) confirmed Friday in a nearly four-minute video that he would leave this summer. “I will play my last match at the Parc des Princes on Sunday,” he said. “I needed a new challenge after seven years.”
If he has not revealed his destination, barring any drama, it should be Real Madrid, whose coach Carlo Ancelotti, questioned on Saturday evening about the possible arrival of the French international, assured that he was concentrating “for the moment” on the end of his club’s season, without further comment.
“A club legend”
For the moment, no specific tribute has been announced by Paris SG in honor of the Bondynois, who despite his numerous records did not manage to guide PSG towards a first coronation in the Champions League. “Sunday will be dedicated to celebrating the Ligue 1 title”, with the presentation of the “Hexagoal” trophy, the 12th in the club’s history, says management.
The club considers that the announcement is a non-event and has been preparing for the post-Mbappé era for many months, since it was notified of its decision in February. For the general public the information, widely relayed in the media, is not new either.
On Saturday, as if nothing had happened, PSG continued to tweet on subjects unrelated to their striker, such as new jerseys or a video game. Luis Enrique himself kicked in on the question of a possible tribute on Sunday. On the other hand, he made a point of greeting his player at a press conference at the PSG Campus in Poissy (Yvelines): “He’s a legend of the club, he said, he’s a player who gave everything for this club, and the club gave everything to him too.”
“Despite the fact that we often wanted to oppose each other, which Kylian publicly denied, everything I can say about Kylian as a footballer and a person is wonderful,” insisted the Spanish coach. “I understand his decision”, it must “end in the best way for all parties”, he added, assuring that “PSG would be stronger next season”. Because, he believes, Mbappé’s departure, announced long ago, “changes nothing in the general panorama”.
The player has sometimes divided and annoyed during his seven years at PSG
In the wake of his video, where he notably thanks his successive coaches and sports directors – but does not mention President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi -, Kylian Mbappé met the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) on Friday evening at the Parc des Princes: “J “I was lucky to be part of this club”, he said, remembering “the emotions, all the atmospheres”.
But Sunday evening against Toulouse, not all the hearts of supporters will necessarily vibrate in unison because the player has sometimes divided and annoyed during his seven years at PSG. And in particular during this last season with the false suspense of his departure and his mediocre performances in the Champions League, notably during the elimination in the semi-final against Dortmund on Tuesday evening at the Parc des Princes.
“We are talking about a 25-year-old football player who has had his most average season and who leaves inelegantly with a video which is marked by urgency, obligation and tension,” criticized Jean-Baptiste. Guégan, author of the recent Mbappé revolution (Michel Lafon) and member of the “Paris United” collective.