- 6 hours ago
PSG deliver BRUTAL response to Real Madrid-bound Mbappe
Robin Bairner
- 17 Feb 2024 22:25 GMT
- 3 min read
PSG reacted to the news that Kylian Mbappe will leave the club at the end of the season by dropping the striker for their Ligue 1 encounter against Nantes, with the forward left among the substitutes at the beginning of the 2-0 win.
Mbappe may not have officially announced his decision to leave the Parc des Princes side at the end of his contract, but it is now accepted that the striker is destined to move on from the club he joined in 2017 from Monaco.
It is expected that the 25-year-old will sign for Real Madrid, with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate almost confirming as much on Saturday, but there remains uncertainty and speculation over what the future holds for the France star.
PSG, meanwhile, reacted swiftly to the news by dropping Mbappe from their starting XI to face Nantes. He did eventually come on with 30 minutes remaining, winning and scoring a penalty in that time to secure the win.
The Ligue 1 leaders have not yet officially confirmed their reasons why Mbappe was on the bench for the fixture, but it is a rarity that the striker is rotated out of the team ahead of a week in which they will not have a fixture on Tuesday or Wednesday.
One alternative explanation for Mbappe’s absence is that he is being left out as a precautionary measure after he picked up an ankle injury in a recent Coupe de France match against Brest. He nursed that problem last weekend as PSG overcame Lille 3-1 at home, a match in which he did not play a single minute.
🚨 Mbappe DROPPED by PSG for tonight's Ligue 1 match against Nantes, L'Equipe reports.
Unclear if he's still suffering from his ankle injury (he's probably not) or if it's in light of his decision to leave the club (probably).#FCNPSG pic.twitter.com/u3bNa40UFo— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) February 17, 2024
Mbappe PSG’s ace
Mbappe has been on fire for Luis Enrique’s side this season, despite often playing in an unfavoured centre-forward role, scoring 21 goals and setting up four more in league play alone.
Already a vital figure before the summer departure of Lionel Messi and Neymar, he has stepped up and become the club’s undoubted superstar.
Across all competitions, he has 32 in 31 outings, with his previous goal coming in Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League triumph over Real Sociedad.
