- PSG aims to secure transfer fee for Mbappe, acquired for €180 million
- Despite new coach Luis Enrique’s hopes, Mbappe excluded from Lorient roster
French sensation Kylian Mbappe made a triumphant return to Paris Saint-Germain’s starting lineup on Sunday, ending his absence due to a contract dispute that kept him sidelined for several weeks.
PSG commenced their Ligue 1 title defense with a goalless stalemate at home against Lorient on Saturday, with the team’s prized star observing from the stands.
“After very constructive and positive discussions between Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe before the PSG-Lorient match, the player was reinstated in the first training team this morning,” PSG said in a statement.
Following a summer marked by changes at Parc des Princes, including new arrivals and Lionel Messi’s departure, the ongoing standoff involving Mbappe continues to command the spotlight.
As the captain of France’s national team, Mbappe has declined to ink an extension to his contract with PSG, thus granting him the possibility of departing for free next year; Real Madrid has been a widely acknowledged preferred destination.
PSG’s objective is to secure his transfer now, obtaining a substantial fee for a player who was acquired for 180 million euros ($198 million) from Monaco in 2017.
While the newly appointed coach, Luis Enrique, expressed hope for a resolution on Friday, Mbappe has not been permitted to train with the main squad and was excluded from the roster to face Lorient.
In lieu of participating, he sat alongside fellow 2018 World Cup champion Ousmane Dembele, who finalized his move from Barcelona earlier that day, while Luis Enrique introduced debuts for six players.