Mbappe Breaks Promise to PSG: Signs of His Mind Set on Madrid Already?

"I won't hide," Kylian Mbappe declared to Telefoot ahead of Paris Saint-Germain's first leg against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final at Parc des Princes. "I'm confident we will give our all."

For the most part, PSG did indeed give their all during a heart-wrenching 3-2 defeat on Wednesday, dominating possession and producing more shots than their Spanish counterparts. However, Mbappe failed to fulfill his pledge.

Jules Kounde effectively neutralized his French national teammate throughout the full 90 minutes, and there were moments when it seemed as though PSG were playing with only 10 men. Mbappe had carried the Ligue 1 giants almost single-handedly to this stage, netting three of his six goals in their last-16 victory over Real Sociedad, leading to speculation that he could be Barcelona's downfall.

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Mbappe has demonstrated time and again his ability to perform when it counts the most. Out of his 46 Champions League goals for PSG, an impressive 19 have come in the knockout stage. Additionally, on the international stage, he has scored 12 times in World Cups, placing him among the elite; only five players in the history of the game have scored more.

The extent of his achievements at just 25 years old is remarkable, and it's daunting to consider that his prime years are still ahead of him. So, what went so terribly wrong against Barcelona? The answer seems clear: Mbappe's focus is already on Madrid.

'Subdued and unhappy'

PSG might have emerged victorious against Barcelona had Mbappe been mentally prepared. Despite Xavi's side entering the game in good form, they still have room for improvement and do not compare to the formidable teams led by Luis Enrique and Pep Guardiola in recent years—a fact emphasized by the current PSG boss in the lead-up to the match.

However, Mbappe failed to make any significant impact on the left side of PSG's attack, registering just one successful dribble and three shots, none of which hit the target. According to ESPN, he also lost possession 13 times, displaying an uncharacteristic lack of concentration, composure, and enthusiasm, which hindered his team's performance.

French publication Le Parisien delivered a scathing critique of Mbappe, blaming him for costing PSG the victory with an "invisible" display. Habib Beye, a former PSG youth player and Senegal international, echoed these sentiments on Canal Plus, stating that Mbappe, as the leader of PSG's attack, should have made a difference but lacked intensity and appeared subdued and unhappy.

L'Equipe awarded Mbappe a harsh rating of 3/10, the same score given to Erling Haaland for a similarly ineffective performance against Real Madrid a day earlier. This rating felt generous, considering Mbappe's superior technical ability compared to Haaland. However, Mbappe's lack of effort during the match is unacceptable for a player of his caliber.

Plummeting motivation levels

Some may argue that Mbappe's recent performances are simply a result of rustiness. After all, he has only started three of PSG's last seven Ligue 1 games and was substituted after just 65 minutes in their 2-0 victory over Marseille.

While Luis Enrique has stated that he is carefully managing Mbappe's minutes, there appears to be more to the situation. Mbappe's playing time began to decrease after reports emerged in February suggesting that he had made the decision to leave PSG and join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Since then, Mbappe's motivation levels seem to have plummeted, and he appears to only show up when he feels like it. Following the Marseille game, he posted a picture of himself walking off the pitch with the captain's armband, accompanied by the caption: "Are you sad my love? Relax, it's almost time."

It's evident that Mbappe's departure from PSG is not going to be smooth, as he doesn't seem concerned about ending on a high note. In early March, he was substituted at halftime during PSG's visit to his former club Monaco and didn't even join his teammates on the bench for the remainder of the game. Instead, he changed into a tracksuit, made a phone call in the tunnel, and then proceeded to smile and wave at Monaco fans as he made his way to the stands. Eventually, he sat next to his mother and agent, Fayza Lamari, signing autographs and posing for photos.

To compound matters, Mbappe was seen smiling and laughing after PSG were held to a 0-0 draw, which dealt a blow to their title hopes at the time. Considering these circumstances, Luis Enrique may need to take a tougher stance if PSG is to have any chance of a comeback against Barcelona.

Should have seen this coming

Spanish outlet Marca's headline "Mbappe is starting to see everything in white" after PSG's defeat to Barca encapsulates the sentiment echoed by many observers. Indeed, all signs on and off the pitch indicate that Mbappe's mind is set on a move to Real Madrid.

The Mbappe to Real Madrid saga has been ongoing for nearly a decade, with Los Blancos initially targeting the French forward before his move to Monaco from PSG in 2017. Despite Real's efforts to lure him away from Parc des Princes in 2021, with several lucrative bids rejected, Mbappe opted to stay at PSG and signed a new contract, leaving Real embarrassed.

However, Mbappe's recent comments to the BBC suggest that his dream of playing for Real Madrid is far from over. He emphasized that one never knows what the future holds, hinting at a potential move. Despite PSG's efforts to retain him, including reportedly granting him executive powers behind the scenes, Mbappe refused to extend his contract last summer, signaling his eventual departure.

It appears that Mbappe has maximized his time at PSG without feeling a genuine sense of loyalty. Real Madrid was always his desired destination, and mentally, he seems to have already made the decision to leave PSG.

Missed opportunity

Mbappe's absence during Wednesday's match was surprising for several reasons, including a subtle jab from Barcelona president Joan Laporta in the lead-up. Laporta's statement, "The message for our fans is to believe in our players and our coach. We have a great team. We are very focused, and it is very important that they know I wouldn't change any of our players for one from PSG," aimed to downplay the significance of Mbappe's impending move to Barcelona's arch-rivals.

Laporta has consistently downplayed any jealousy toward Real Madrid as they close in on signing Mbappe, emphasizing the challenges they will face in integrating him into their squad. According to Sky Sports, Madrid is prepared to make Mbappe the highest-paid player in their history, though his new package won't quite match the £171 million ($215m) per year he currently earns at PSG. Additionally, Mbappe is expected to receive an extravagant £100 million ($125m) signing-on fee, which may soften the blow of a potential pay cut.

It's plausible that some Madrid players may feel undervalued once the transfer is finalized, particularly if Mbappe struggles to adapt quickly at the Santiago Bernabeu. Laporta was correct in highlighting that Mbappe's preferred position has always been on the left flank, currently occupied by Vinicius Jr. Thus, Mbappe may need to acclimate to playing as a No.9 consistently.

There would have been no better way to silence Laporta than by delivering a standout performance in Paris. However, the Mbappe who showcased his talent with a hat-trick against Barcelona in the 2020-21 Champions League last-16 appears to have lost his edge. He seems to have lost the fire within him, and PSG may never witness that version of him again.

High on self-importance

Mbappe appeared to be destined for a future Ballon d'Or when he orchestrated Barcelona's downfall at Camp Nou three years ago, and he has remained PSG's most influential player throughout Luis Enrique's inaugural season. There are no doubts about Mbappe's quality, but his actions this season suggest a player who is overly self-important, and this attitude must change if he is to fulfill his potential.

To compound matters, Mbappe wasn't aided by the manager's tactical decisions in the recent match. Luis Enrique's puzzling choice to deploy Marcos Asensio as a false nine, despite his lack of recent playing time, allowed Barcelona to focus their defensive efforts on Mbappe.

Furthermore, Luis Enrique's decision to field Lee Kang-in in midfield and shift Marquinhos to right-back meant that Mbappe struggled to make an impact as PSG lacked cohesion in the first half. While Luis Enrique eventually recognized the issues and made adjustments at halftime, bringing on Bradley Barcola and shifting Ousmane Dembele infield, PSG still needed Mbappe's brilliance to secure victory, but he failed to deliver.

Reflecting on the match, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, who covered the game for TNT Sports, remarked: "The one we spoke about, the best player in the world in my opinion; Mbappe. He didn't perform, and when he doesn't perform, PSG invariably don't get the result.

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