Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique expressed pride in having Kylian Mbappé on his team and understood the club’s all-time top scorer’s decision to end his tenure at PSG.
Mbappé, whose contract expires this season, announced his departure in a video on Friday after months of speculation about his future. This announcement brings Real Madrid closer to ending its years of pursuit of the French international, widely regarded as one of the world’s best football players.
“All I can say are wonderful things about Kylian Mbappé as both a footballer and a person,” Enrique told reporters on Saturday. “I understand his decision. He has been here for seven years and as a club legend. He has given everything to this club, and this club has given everything to him too. I wish him all the best for the future. I am proud to have had him in this team. He has helped us and is a leader, and he has done it with a smile.”
However, losing Mbappé, who scored 255 goals for PSG in all competitions and won six Ligue 1 titles with them, will not change things at the club, according to Enrique. “These are things we have known for a long time… it was only made public yesterday,” the coach stated. “But it changes nothing about our overall vision. Everything will remain the same. No matter who is here or who is not, my goal is to be stronger next season.”
Enrique mentioned that leaving the Champions League after losing to Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final still hurts and that it is important for PSG to finish the season by winning the Coupe de France final against Lyon on May 25. “PSG will continue to be a great team and we will become even better. We are going to recruit players with a strong mentality and players who identify with the club… that’s how life works,” he added. PSG, which won the Ligue 1 title for the third consecutive time, hosts Toulouse, currently 12th, this Sunday in what will be Mbappé’s last home match for them.
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