Kylian Mbappé plays his last match with Paris Saint-Germain this Saturday after seven seasons spent in the capital club. The French striker will leave behind an indelible mark, but his story with the club and its supporters ends in contrasting fashion.
Published on: 05/25/2024 – 6:01 p.m.
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This time, it’s definitely over. Paris Saint-Germain closes the Kylian Mbappé chapter this evening, with perhaps one last title on the line for the French striker, during the final of the Coupe de France which pits the Ile-de-France club against Olympique Lyonnais.
After months of rumors and speculation, Mbappé (almost) put an end to the suspense in a farewell video published on May 10 by announcing that this 2023-2024 season would be his last in Paris. However, one unknown remains: the name of his next club with which he will be able to sign freely has still not officially filtered. There is, however, little doubt that he will join Real Madridthe club of his dreams since he was a child and which had already almost recruited him in 2017 before his signing for PSG.
14 trophies, 256 goals
In seven seasons, the native of Bondy won 14 trophies with Paris, he finished six seasons in a row as top scorer in Ligue 1 and scored a total of 256 goals, an absolute record which makes him the top scorer in the history of the Paris Saint-Germain, far ahead of Edinson Cavani and his 200 achievements. Exceptional statistics which bear witness to these years of domination of the attacker in the L1.
But when you are Kylian Mbappé, it is difficult to be satisfied with the French championship, even more so when you play in a club which has for years displayed the ambition of conquering its first Champions League. In this quest, it is difficult to say that the striker was not up to the task when he still scored 42 goals in the competition with PSG, but he did not succeed in carrying the team on his shoulders when necessary, like in the final in 2020 against Bayern Munich or more recently in semi-final in the return match against Dortmund which nevertheless seemed within reach of Parisians.
The Champions League, still too high a step
This inability to take his team to the next level in tough matches leaves a bitter taste in Mbappé’s adventure with PSG. This is what some Parisian supporters criticize him for, also tired of the multiple controversies which have punctuated the player’s seven seasons in the capital. In 2018 after receiving the trophy for best player in Ligue 1 at the end of his first season with Paris, the Bondynois declared that he thought it was the moment for him “ to have more responsibilities » hoping it’s “ at Paris Saint-Germain […] or maybe for a new project ».
This outing, which looked like a pressure attack, was not well received by the club’s management. Tensions ensued with the other leaders of the Parisian project Neymar and Messi, then attempts to leave were delayed several times until the president of the club Nasser al-Khelaïfi finally convinces the Mbappé clan to extend his contract by two years in 2022 with an optional year.
The Parisian club had sworn to its great gods that Mbappé would not leave Paris Saint-Germain free, but that is what will happen with the striker’s decision not to activate this third year of his optional contract. , at the same time provoking the anger of the Parisian leaders and some of the supporters.
A final year of ups and downs
This choice earned the striker a checkered end to the season. Restricted on several occasions to the substitutes’ bench, Mbappé was not spared by his coach who explained last February that his team “ had to get used to playing without Kylian “. Questioned on May 10 during the striker’s last match against his public, Luis Enrique nevertheless affirmed that Mbappé was “ a club legend “, adding shortly after that he was convinced that the ” PSG will be stronger next year ».
A funny way to praise one of the best players on the planet. The star’s farewell to the Parc des Princes for his last home match attests to this difficult separation: no official tribute was planned by the club and Kylian Mbappé had to be content with a few words of thanks from his leaders drowned in the middle of the Ligue 1 champion trophy presentation ceremony, when at the same time, the official speaker of PSG, Michel Montana, received from the club all the consideration that his 26 years of good and loyal service deserved.
With Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain had in its ranks one of the very best players of his generation. He leaves behind him, both in the French championship and in Paris, a colossal legacy, undoubtedly much greater than that of other superstars like Messi or Neymar. But, and this is the paradox, the Bondynois has never managed to find a place in the pantheon of the Parisian public who always only have eyes for figures of a much more “romantic” football. » like Raï, Ronaldinho, Safet Susic or Pedro Miguel Pauletta. Players whose performance is far removed from monstrous statistics of a Mbappébut in Paris breaking records is clearly not enough to enter the hearts of supporters.
