In the first game under Luis Enrique’s leadership, Kylian Mbappe was seen grinning as he observed Paris Saint-Germain lose.
The French attacker was present at the Parc des Princes for the team’s Ligue 1 debut against Lorient, sitting next to fellow misfit Ousmane Dembele and cracking jokes during the painful 0-0 tie.
PSG struggled to find the breakthrough despite controlling 78 percent of the ball and taking 20 shots as their tenure under their new manager got off to a dismal start.
The choice to keep Mbappe out of the first team may have made Enrique’s job more difficult.
As he enters the final year of his contract with the club, the 24-year-old has generated a great deal of controversy in Paris this summer.
PSG stated that he would either sign a new contract or be sold after making it plain that he wouldn’t be signing one. The club believes the player has already decided to join Real Madrid when his contract expires next summer.
He was consequently prohibited from training and put into a “loft” training group.
Although Mbappe has reportedly informed Paris Saint-Germain that he desires to stay at the club this season, Chelsea and teams in Saudi Arabia have been linked to him.
Enrique doesn’t appear to mind watching from the stands for the time being, although it’s unclear whether he will ultimately opt to reintegrate Mbappe with the first team.