Kylian Mbappé was replaced at half-time this Friday during Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Monaco.
It was a strange atmosphere that pervaded the aisles of Louis-II on Friday at half-time of this seemingly banal Monaco-PSG. After a very ordinary first period for the Parisians, some observers suggested, with a smile, that Luis Enrique would take out Kylian Mbappé from the break. After all, the Spaniard seems to assume his new management of the star. Well Luis Enrique dared.
Why did the world champion give up his place at the break? Grimacing during the first act after a contact, the top scorer in Ligue 1 (21 goals) was no longer so at all when he returned to the locker room. Mbappé was even smiling and absolutely not limping. Despite this, the thesis of a precaution taken before the second round against Real Sociedad on Tuesday cannot be ruled out.
The captain leaves the ship
Beyond Luis Enrique’s decision, the images that followed were just as intriguing, if not frankly incomprehensible. We saw Mbappé completely disconnected from the rest of the squad doing a sort of lap of honor in his former garden of Louis-II, which he will perhaps see for the last time in his career. Like an outside player representing a team, for half-time – a team of which he is the captain.
Mbappé then joined his loved ones, and in particular his mother Fayza Lamari, to sit in the stands of the Monaco enclosure as if nothing had happened, cell phone in hand and smile on his lips. An image that says a lot about how this season has turned out for the world champion. HAS forced to hear that he is already no longer Parisian, Kylian Mbappé will end up believing it. Even when he still has his club jersey on his back.
