Mbappé’s decision to join Real Madrid was made in December

On January 3, Paris Saint Germain had just been crowned champions against Toulouse in the Trophée des Champions (French Super Cup). In the mixed zone, a smiling Kylian Mbappé appeared to speak to the media. Everyone was waiting for an answer about his future and the striker, after a consensual and carefully controlled communication, admitted that he had “not made a decision yet”.

Those words were actually a bluff, a controlled lie according to L’Équipe. Mbappé made the decision to leave Paris Saint Germain in December, when, according to the newspaper, he reached an agreement in principle with Real Madrid. The French national team captain did not want his future to become the central theme of the Parisians’ season, so he chose to prolong a soap opera that really had no outcome because everything was already decided.

A month later, just before the first leg of the round of 16 against Real Sociedad, Mbappé decided to go to Nasser Al Khelaïfi’s office, telling him that he would not renew with PSG and that this, his seventh season in Paris, would be his last at the club. He also begged the president not to insist because his decision had been made for a long time, as L’Équipe confirmed on Sunday and as Foot-Mercato had already reported on January 7.

Now all that remains is to put the finishing touches on a relationship that has lasted for seven years and which, pending this season, has not yet been able to culminate in a Champions League title. In the meantime, Luis Enrique is already preparing for his departure, replacing him on Sunday against Rennes, when PSG were losing 0-1. This decision, which was unimaginable a few weeks ago, to take off the best player in the squad with an adverse result, is part of the roadmap of the Asturian coach, who wants to build a team without the presence of the French international.

“Sooner or later, this is going to happen. We have to get used to playing without Kylian. When? When he sees fit, he will play; and when he doesn’t, he won’t. This happens with all coaches,” said the former Spanish national team coach. PSG enters a new era after Mbappé’s departure, who will try to leave one last service, winning the Champions League, before surely leaving for Real Madrid in June.