Paris: Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique declined to comment on the news that Kylian Mbappe will leave the club at the end of this season when he spoke to reporters on Friday. A source at the club told Reuters on Friday that Mbappe would leave at the end of his current contract but terms of the agreement have not yet been decided and it could be months before an official announcement.
After numerous media reports of the news since Thursday, it was obvious that the first question for the manager would be a request for confirmation of Mbappe's departure, but his short reply gave nothing away. "No. I can't say anything," Luis Enrique told the press conference.
He was then asked if he was worried about the player's commitment for the rest of the season, but the manager made it clear this was a topic not up for discussion. "I am going to try to bring this topic to an end. I don't have any comments to make," the manager said. "The parties involved haven't yet said anything publicly, Kylian Mbappe hasn't said anything publicly. "When both parties speak, I will give my opinion."
Mbappe joined PSG as an 18-year-old in 2017, arriving from AS Monaco for 180 million euros ($193.91 million), making him the world's second most expensive signing after Brazil's Neymar, who joined PSG for 222 million euros in the same month. He won the league title with Monaco in his final season at the club, and Mbappe has since won the championship in five of his six seasons at PSG, and they are 11 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 this season.
The questions surrounding the news kept coming, and the Spanish coach was asked about the atmosphere at training this morning.
"The atmosphere in training is just like it was before any game, and in this case, it is ahead of Nantes. It was a normal training session without any news," Luis Enrique said. The club source also told Reuters that the club has ambitious plans in the next transfer window, but for now, Luis Enrique remained tight-lipped on what those plans will include. "I work hard individually and collectively with my staff and the sporting directors here on the present and the immediate future," he said.
"That is our aim throughout the season, regardless of whether certain decisions are taken or not." The media circus has already begun, but the manager insisted he is not concerned about the increased interest around the club. "No, I am not worried at all. In fact, being able to be here now is down to having the experience and being able to play for PSG," he said. "You have to have the personality. There are always rumours surrounding the club, you have to know how to manage that. There will always be criticism and praise. "That is all normal. There is controversy too, we know that. If you don't like that you cant be at a club like this."
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