Kylian Mbappe saga overshadows PSG's latest new era under Luis Enrique

09.08.2023 - 05:07 thenationalnews.com

New coach, fresh ructions in the squad and the usual title to defend. When Paris Saint-Germain begin their competitive season on Saturday at home to Lorient, it can hardly be with clear, focused minds.

France’s Ligue 1 automatically installs them as favourites to collect a 10th title in 12 years, but finds itself most intrigued by the various confrontations between PSG’s dressing-room and boardroom.

Chief among them, the Kylian Mbappe stand-off, a soap opera previously rehearsed two summers ago when he was subject of a vast bid from Real Madrid; PSG turned that one down, later making Mbappe the best-paid footballer in the world.

This summer’s impasse has Mbappe refusing to renew that contract, PSG alarmed he could leave for free when his deal expires next June and convinced he has a private arrangement with Madrid for 2024 – or sooner if Madrid show a willingness to pay PSG €150 million-plus before the end of August.

Ligue 1 Mauricio Pochettino Kylian Mbappe Luis Enrique Christophe Galtier Nasser Al-Khelaifi Paris Saint-Germain France Spain

Kylian Mbappe won and converted a penalty on his Paris Saint-Germain return on Saturday in a 1-1 draw at Toulouse after being reinstated to the first team following a contract dispute with the French champions. The France captain started on the bench but came on in the 51st minute and promptly broke the deadlock, drawing a foul from Rasmus Nicolaisen and tucking away the resulting spot-kick just past the hour mark.

Kylian Mbappe On Bench For PSG Return Against Toulouse

Kylian Mbappe will start Saturday's Ligue 1 game at Toulouse as a substitute after being reinstated to the first team following a contract dispute. The France captain has not played for PSG since the first of the club's pre-season friendlies on July 21, and missed the 0-0 draw against Lorient last weekend in the opening round of games. Mbappe was not invited to the pre-season tour in Japan and South Korea and was made to train with players the club are trying to offload after he refused to sign an extension to his PSG deal.

What Kylian Mbappe said to PSG president in furious row over contract rebel's banishment amid Real Madrid plan

The heated words between PSG contract rebel Kylian Mbappe and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi have been revealed, according to a report.

PSG finally able to focus on new season as Mbappe saga ends and Neymar heads for exit

Seldom has a 0-0 draw been welcomed as so promising. Paris Saint-Germain, serial champions of France, extravagant drivers of transfer fee inflation, began the defence of their Ligue 1 title at home to Lorient, who finished 10th last season, and could not break the deadlock.

Neymar 'In Negotiations' Over Saudi Move As Kylian Mbappe Returns To PSG Good Books

Neymar was "in negotiations" on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions. A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar "no longer figures in the club or manager's plans" with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom. Another source in Saudi Arabia said that "direct negotiations" between Neymar's agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.