Mbappe v Enrique: Record scorer's PSG career reaching undignified end after Monaco farce

Kylian Mbappe is leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season with it widely expected to be confirmed that he will join Real Madrid.

The 25-year-old effectively handed in his notice to PSG club president Nasser al-Khelaifi last month, informing his boss that he would not be activating a one-year clause in his contract.

And since then, it appears that the divorce between Mbappe and his club is going to get ugly.

Manager Luis Enrique seemingly has Mbappe in his crosshairs at the moment, taking every opportunity he can to remind the World Cup winner who’s boss, making adverse statements to the press and generally behaving like a lover scorned.

As PSG’s all-time top goalscorer, Mbappe might expect a bit more respect, prestige or leeway from his Spanish manager but over the last few weeks things have grown increasingly fractious.

READ MORE: Latest Kylian Mbappe transfer news

Since Mbappe informed club chiefs of his decision, he has become less and less of an integral component of the Parisians’ lineup.

Luis Enrique said back in December that he was sure his side “would be better in February” but no one thought it would be without Mbappe.

He was named among the substitutes for the Ligue 1 games against Lille and Nantes last month, although, against the latter, he did come off the bench to score a penalty. Mbappe was restored to the lineup for the match against Rennes last week but only lasted 65 minutes before his manager hauled him off with PSG in search of a goal.

Numbers behind Mbappe's shocking Monaco performance

But the nadir was reached against Monaco on Friday night. It was a contest in which the goalkeepers were the stars - with PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma their best player on the night - but events around Mbappe were eyebrow-raising to say the least.

He had a match to forget; during the first half he lost possession an astonishing 10 times, had one off-target shot and contributed nothing of note. He tried four dribbles, completing only one. In all he played only 23 passes and completed just 18.

There were all kinds of mistakes; one ill-advised flick on the halfway line, scrappy passes that failed to reach their targets, poor-decision making, poor control inside the area and attempted backheels which went nowhere.

To the untrained eye it looked like a nonchalant, even ill-disciplined performance on his return to the club which made him a star.

Mbappe picking the ball up deep in his own half, in what you might term the Verratti position, is not a natural sight. But instead of finding a pass, he tried to dribble straight through his marker. He was robbed of the ball and, on his knees, was spotted begging for a free kick.

These are not the sights you associate with the potential Ballon d’Or winner, who this week was invited by French president Emmanuel Macron to the Elysee Palace.

And Luis Enrique delivered the ultimate message. Mbappe was hauled off at half-time, replaced by Randal Kolo Muani.

In a turn of events which should cause Mbappe some introspection, PSG were much better after the break.

The first half, PSG had five shots and two on target for an expected goals (xG) total of .22. After halftime they had nine shots, five on target with an xG of 1.35.

Luis Enrique showing Mbappe who is boss

"It was 100 percent the coach's decision, because sooner or later we will have to get used to playing without Kylian Mbappe," a catty Luis Enrique said after the game. "I took this decision for the good of the team.

"I am not going to play this game. For me there is no problem, this is just how I want to handle things.”

Television cameras then caught Mbappe decked out in a tracksuit in the Monaco tunnel, smiling and chatting on his mobile phone. Instead of taking his place among the substitutes for the second half, he sat high up in the VIP seats at the Stade Louis II, alongside his mother and agent, Fayza Lamari.

Kylian Mbappe was subbed off at half-time and this was him minutes later...

On the phone to Florentino Perez...? 👀 pic.twitter.com/cAURkfgGd9

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 1, 2024

There has been tension bubbling to the surface between player and manager over the last few weeks and events on Friday night brought it out into the open. It was all French commentators could speak about after the game.

“I think Luis Enrique doesn’t like Kylian Mbappe. He doesn’t like the way he plays and his attitude. Is it because Luis Enrique has an oversized ego and wants to be the star, or because he has a certain Spanish vision of football?” World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry told RMC Sport earlier this week.

And now with Mbappe’s exit confirmed, it seems that Luis Enrique doesn’t have to pretend any longer. This is his team, not Mbappe’s, and the superstar won't be allowed to forget it from here on in.

After seven years, 244 goals and a lifetime of memories, Mbappe’s PSG career is reaching a sad and undignified end.