PSG deliver BRUTAL response to Real Madrid-bound Mbappe

Robin Bairner

• 17 Feb 2024 13:10 CST
• 3 min read

PSG have reacted to the news that Kylian Mbappe will leave the club at the end of the season but dropping the striker for their Ligue 1 encounter against Nantes.

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, have reacted swiftly to the news by dropping Mbappe from their starting XI to face Nantes.

Of course, the Ligue 1 leaders have not officially confirmed their reasons why Mbappe will only be 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 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 20 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 31 in 30 outings, with his latest the opening goal in Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League triumph over Real Sociedad.