PSG
PSG manager Luis Enrique gives hope to exiled players: will Kylian Mbappé be called up and play?
The Spanish coach has called up some of the players in the squad who were previously training as part of the ‘exiled’ group.
PSG make their league debut at the weekend against Lorient at the Parc de Princes, and the occasion is being thought of as the start of a new era. Luxury and riches are no longer the order of the day in Paris, with the proof being the exits of many superstars such as Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos. The club are also ready to make the final move against Mbappé, and want the ultras to join in.
As for the treatment of Mbappé, he is training in exile and has had his shirts removed from the club shop. However, the attacker’s group of ‘rejects’ is about to get smaller, it seems, but not because they are leaving: Luis Enrique is about to call up some of those previously sent away - could Mbappé be one of them?
Which players will Luis Enrique call up?
The squad is not complete by any means and the club, on Wednesday 9 August, told Neymar and Verratti that they are not part of the sporting plans for the season ahead. According to information given by RMC, Luis Enrique could take a look at some of the exiled players to fill up the squad before the end of the market. Abdou Diallo, one of the ‘rejects’ who has been part of the small group since the start of the summer, was reintegrated with the first team. And he won’t be the last.
Leandro Paredes and Georginio Wijnaldum are thought of as being the two players closest to returning to the fold in order to give more options to the manager who is in need of reinforcement in the middle of the pitch, given the upcoming exit of Marco Verratti. The Italian is not going to be part of the team in the 2023/24 season under the Spanish coach and could well end up packing his bags for Saudi Arabia, as so many have done this summer. However, the proposed transfer to Al Hilal is nowhere near completion.
Could Luis Enrique call up Kylian Mbappé?
There are some rules to what Luis Enrique can do, and one of them is not call up Kylian Mbappé (who some claim wants to leave). The striker is, until at least the end of the transfer window, going to remain where he is until the situation changes and is the only player who is out of bounds for the new manager. The decision to leave Mbappé out comes from Qatar and Luis Enrique, who has respected the club’s rules, has no say whatsoever.