Coach Enrique is ready to disobey PSG because of Mbappe
According to Spanish newspaper Relevo, new coach Luis Enrique wants to have full control over personnel matters at PSG. However, he first clashed with the team over Mbappe's case, when the striker was removed from the training list in Japan. PSG leaders also want Mbappe to sit on the bench until the end of the season, but Enrique opposes this.
PSG believe that Mbappe has signed a preliminary agreement to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, meaning he has betrayed the French club. The 25-year-old striker has only one year left on his contract with PSG, and has repeatedly admitted his desire to go to Real. However, PSG want Mbappe to extend his contract, or leave in the summer of 2023 so that the team can collect some of the transfer fee, avoiding losing him next year.
Real Madrid believe they will have Mbappe next season, so they will not spend money to recruit the French star this summer. Coach Carlo Ancelotti also said that Real can completely compete for many titles next season without buying more strikers.
Coach Enrique said that the most important thing for him was the unity in the team. He once banned Lionel Messi from playing a match, after the two argued during their time at Barca. He did not want to listen to orders from the Qatari owners like a puppet at PSG. Mbappe is the most important player in the team at the moment and he has no reason to leave him on the bench all season. That can also cause disunity in the team.
Mbappe is not training with PSG, but training separately with players who are no longer in the team's plan such as Gini Wijnaldum, Leandro Paredes, Julian Draxler, Abdou Diallo and Colin Dagba. PSG is trying to sell these players, but not yet.
The French Footballers' Association (UNFP) also released a statement in support of Mbappe, saying that he is fully entitled to enjoy working conditions like other colleagues, meaning he will be allowed to play football next season, before going to Real for free.
PSG will play their first friendly match in Japan against Al Nassr on July 25, at Nagai Stadium. They will play four more matches here before returning to France, starting the new season.
