Kylian Mbappe has been in and out of Luis Enrique’s starting XI for PSG for much of the season, but the striker will not play any part at all in Wednesday’s Ligue 1 encounter against Nice.
Mbappe has announced his intention to depart Parc des Princes in the summer, presumably to sign for Real Madrid.
This has not gone down well with the Spanish coach, who has claimed that PSG will be stronger without a player who has scored at the rate of virtually a goal per game for the Ligue 1 outfit this season.
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Nevertheless, Mbappe’s absence from PSG’s official squad to face Nice at the Allianz Riviera on Wednesday has nothing to do with his move to Real Madrid.
Instead, it is to do with Luis Enrique focusing on the Coupe de France a week on Saturday at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Mbappe, whose brother Ethan is in the travelling party, is carrying a minor hamstring problem that PSG want to nurse ahead of the Lyon clash.
The squad for the trip to Nice! 📋🔴🔵#Ligue1 | #OGCNPSG pic.twitter.com/EtaGbzBkJz
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 15, 2024
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This also explains the absence of Ousmane Dembele from the panel. The former Barcelona winger has thigh pain and will not travel south with the squad.
Keylor Navas, meanwhile, is sidelined due to illness.
It is unclear if any of these players will be back for the final Ligue 1 match of the season, which will take place on Sunday against Metz away from home.
Last demand for Mbappe
Vincent Labrune, president of the French Professional League (LFP), has asked Mbappe to one day return to Ligue 1 before the end of his career.
He said: “What I remember is not that Kylian is leaving. What I remember above all is that Kylian stayed 7 years ago after an already fantastic year at AS Monaco.
“He could have made the choice to leave, he made the choice to stay in Ligue 1 for seven years to make PSG and Ligue 1 shine, to make France shine and put lots of stars in the eyes of our children.
“For all these magical moments, these unique moments, these small and big emotions, Kylian, I wanted to warmly thank you on behalf of French football.
“You are going to live your life, experience your dreams elsewhere and I wish for you to realise them from the bottom of my heart. But what I wish for all of us collectively is that you come back to us in France, to your home in Ligue 1 because the story is not over. I sincerely hope that we will see you again one day on our pitches.”
