LIGUE 1
Paris Saint-Germain begin life without Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappé
There had been strong rumours the France captain, along with Neymar, wouldn’t play in PSG’s first Ligue 1 game of the season against Lorient.
The open secret is a secret no more: Paris Saint-Germain have left star striker Kylian Mbappé out of their squad for the first Ligue 1 match of the season against Lorient at the Parc des Princes. The France captain has been frozen out of the first-team picture since 21 July and has instead been training with the reserves, along with players who also face uncertain futures. Although Mbappé won’t take to the field, he is expected to receive a hostile reception from PSG ultras. Neither Neymar nor Marco Verratti, who have also been linked with moves away, will be involved either.
Mbappé's stand-off against PSG
In recent days, the former Monaco attacker has held talks with club president Nasser Al Khelaïfi and reaffirmed his intention to see out the last year of his contract in Paris and leave the French capital for free in the summer of 2024. PSG’s Qatari owners, meanwhile, have made it clear that Mbappé does not extend his deal or agree to be transferred in the current transfer window, he will not be selected to play all season.
2 September a key date in Mbappé saga
Those threats have fallen on deaf ears so far and PSG will soon have another big decision to make. Between 1 July and 1 September, clubs in France can organise their squads however they wish, as established by law in French soccer’s collective agreement called the French Football Charter, signed by the French football players’ union (UNFP), the French Football Federation (FFF) and the LFP (the Ligue de Football Professionnel, who run the professional leagues in France). From 2 September onwards, however, the club would then have to justify keeping Mbappé away from first-team training, which could prove difficult.
In the meantime, the best Ligue 1 champions can hope for is an offer from Real Madrid, who intend to sign the 24-year-old for free in 2024.
Will Mbappé ever play for PSG again?
Unless something drastic happens, we shouldn’t expect to see Mbappé pull on a PSG jersey in August, with an irate Al Khelaïfi refusing to go back on the “punishment” handed out to the player.
Head coach Luis Enrique, meanwhile, is playing the waiting game and will begin the season with something of an incomplete squad. Will he be able to call upon Mbappé once the transfer window closes? There are sure to be more twists and turns in the transfer tale of the summer.