For Luis Enrique, the new manager of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the journey has just begun, but already there are clouds of uncertainty hovering over his tenure.
A brewing conflict between Luis Enrique and the club’s Qatari owners regarding star player Kylian Mbappé could potentially jeopardize his position even before the first game kicks off.
According to the Guardian, Luis Enrique was immediately confronted with questions about Mbappé’s future at the club during his first press conference.
The Spanish coach remained tight-lipped but affirmed that he is counting on all players under contract and those the club is trying to acquire. He emphasized that the transfer window is dynamic and that PSG will have a strong team.
The tension escalated when Paris Saint-Germain, following orders from the club’s higher-ups, decided to exclude Kylian Mbappé from the tour of Japan.
The reason behind this decision was the player’s refusal to renew his contract, which is set to expire in June 2024. Reports suggest that the Frenchman has his sights set on a move to Real Madrid in 2024, leading to a rift between him and the Qatari ownership.
The potential first blow has created unrest within the Parisian dressing room and has put Luis Enrique in a delicate position. According to Relevo (via Reddit) Enrique will not bench Mbappe if he wishes to stay at PSG and go for free in 2024.
The PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, seeks to secure a transfer fee for Mbappé’s departure this summer but is confronted with a challenging transfer market. Mbappé’s potential move to Real Madrid adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
As Luis Enrique takes charge of the team, he is no stranger to handling star players. He has dealt with the likes of Lionel Messi at Barcelona and Sergio Ramos for the Spanish National squad before, displaying his ability to assert authority and maintain a collective structure within the squad. His past experiences give PSG fans hope that he can navigate through the current crisis.
