AP – This time, it’s really the end. After missing Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) last two league games, Kylian Mbappé should start in the French Cup final against Lyon on Sunday for his final match in a PSG shirt.
The forward, who is widely expected to join Real Madrid, was given some free time by coach Luis Enrique last weekend and was spotted enjoying himself at the Cannes film festival while PSG wrapped up a 12th victorious league campaign in less glamorous settings. Mbappé told PSG in February he will leave at the end of the season on Sunday and confirmed it this month.
Over the last three months, Enrique has tried to make PSG less reliant on his star striker, arguing that he needed to start thinking about the future knowing that Mbappé would not be around next season.
Although Enrique has yet to decide on his starting 11 for Sunday’s final at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy, snubbing Mbappé, or even leaving him on the bench, would equate to a slap in his face. Mbappé is the club’s all-time top scorer with 256 and has won six Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups with PSG.
Although he didn’t lead the club to a Champions League trophy in his seven seasons in Paris, he largely contributed to helping PSG reach a respected status on the continent.
Leaving him on the sidelines on the night he could cap his PSG journey with yet another title seems highly unlikely, although Enrique has warned his players he will select only those who deserve it.
