PSG boss Enrique breaks silence on 'broken' Mbappe relationship

Tom Weber

Updated: 24 Sep 2024 04:41 CDT
3 min read

Luis Enrique, Kylian Mbappe, PSG — © IMAGO

PSG head coach Luis Enrique has spoken at length about Kylian Mbappe's difficult final season at PSG.

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The Spaniard was hired in the summer of 2023 to take PSG to the next level but his first season at the Parc des Princes was overshadowed by the inevitable departure of Mbappe.

It was an open secret that the Frenchman was on his way to Real Madrid and Enrique had to try and handle the situation. Initially, Mbappe was banished from the squad on the orders of Nasser Al-Khelaifi before being brought back into the fold after a 'gentleman's agreement' was made.

This accord had stipulated that Mbappe would forego significant chunks of his hefty remuneration, but this 'agreement' has now devolved into a legal battle over €55 million worth of withheld wages.

Mbappe would feature heavily under Enrique in his final season at PSG, but there were constant rumours of the relationship between the two being strained at best and broken at worst.

Now, the coach has sought to set the record straight.

Enrique on Mbappe

Speaking in an extensive interview with Movistar, the former Barcelona boss rubbished claims that he did not get along well with Mbappe.

"We will try in the future not to pay exorbitant amounts for players who do not have that price. It is not good for the footballer or for the sporting health. Last year, I had a challenge with Mbappé, to get the best version of him and win titles. We did it. Now we have given a new twist to the game model," Enrique said.

“In the case of Kylian, I found a wonderful player and a person of an exceptional level like few times you can find when you arrive and see a player of this human level, affectionate, close. A wonderful player. What a shame he went to Madrid! Especially for us at the time.

"But life is also part of the game. I hope he does well. I have nothing to reproach him for, his departure conditioned us. We always tried to improve his virtues and cover up his defects. He was always very polite and respectful. So was his brother and his parents.”