The storm did not stop at the French borders.
It spread far beyond, and in particular to Iberian lands.
Friday evening, Kylian Mbappé was replaced at half-time by his coach, Luis Enrique, during the match against Monaco (0-0).
But the PSG striker, instead of joining his camp on the bench to watch the second period, went to the stands.
Provoking a wave of reactions, questions, misunderstandings…
After parading throughout the Louis-II stadium, greeting the crowd and even taking a photo with a Monegasque hostess, KMB joined his mother, Fayza Lamari.
Such incongruous images obviously alerted the Spanish press, on the lookout for the slightest move by Kylian Mbappé.
The striker, who announced his departure from PSG and is expected at Real Madrid next season, is being closely scrutinized.
Kylian #Mbappé is not returning to the bench.
The striker has changed and will sit in the stands to watch the 2nd half.
On the road, he takes the time to greet the public, cap screwed on his head, and even takes a little selfie.
#ASMPSG pic.twitter.com/O32UBeTF1j
— Benjamin Quarez (@B_Quarez) March 1, 2024
On the front page, the Madrid daily As mentions the Parisian's exit: “Luis Enrique “sanctions” Mbappé and makes him leave at half-time.
» The Spanish tactician has fully assumed the replacement of his star, which is not linked to a possible injury.
That could have been the case, as the striker complained about his ankle shortly before the break.
“It’s 100% a decision of the coach,” assured Luis Enrique.
I think that, sooner or later, we have to get used to playing without Kylian Mbappé.
It's my decision and it's a decision that I make with the objective, in my opinion, of obtaining the best for the team.
»
In today's edition, As also returned to the casual attitude of Kylian Mbappé after his replacement: “An unspoken rule is that the replaced players follow the end of the match with their teammates on the bench.
But the cameras filmed Mbappé smiling and chatting on the phone, as if the match was not going to resume.
Then he signed autographs and we saw him in the stands with his mother, far from the image of seriousness that a club wants to see in its players in the middle of a match.
»
🗞 There is the #PortadAS of the 2nd of March
🕊 Let's party in peace pic.twitter.com/zd5W4kxzKI
— Diario AS (@diarioas) March 1, 2024
On Marca’s side, it’s even “unheard of”.
The Spanish daily believes, for its part, that Kylian Mbappé is preparing his exit, having already announced to his partners and his president his departure from PSG at the end of the season.
“In the meantime, PSG will continue to try to get used to playing without him.
With the trip to San Sebastián
(Tuesday evening against Real Sociedad)
, will Luis Enrique continue to tighten the noose?
» In Catalonia, the Barcelona daily Sport describes “a very curious image” sent back by PSG and its player.