Luis Enrique was appointed Paris Saint-Germain’s new coach on Wednesday on a two-year contract, but his revelation was overshadowed by lingering questions about Kylian Mbappé’s future. The 53-year-old former Barcelona coach, who has been a free agent since his sacking by Spain last December, replaces Christophe Galtier after his departure was confirmed earlier today. Luis Enrique was unveiled at a press conference alongside the president of the Qatar-backed club, Nasser al-Khelaifi, at their new training complex in Poissy, northwest of the French capital.
“I am delighted to go to Paris to enjoy a new experience,” Luis Enrique said in a club statement. “It’s so exciting to meet new people, to live in this city, to learn a new language and most importantly to lead PSG.”
But when asked if he had been given any guarantee that superstar striker Mbappé would stay at the club for the coming campaign, he was evasive.
The Spaniard later insisted he was “counting on all the players under contract”.
However, Khelaifi stated that 24-year-old Mbappe “needs to sign a new contract” if he wants to stay with PSG for the coming season.
“The position is very clear. If Kylian wants to stay, he has to sign a new contract. We cannot let the best player in the world go for free today. That is impossible,” said Khelaifi.
“He said he wouldn’t leave for free. If someone changed their mind, it’s not my fault.”
Mbappé stated last month that he would not renew his contract, which expires next year.
The club must therefore sell the player in the current transfer window, otherwise they will probably lose him for nothing when his contract expires.
Real Madrid hoped to sign Mbappé a year ago before he signed a new contract in Paris. The Spanish giants are favorites to secure the striker should he eventually switch clubs.
The new coach is the eighth man to lead the club since Qatar’s transformative takeover in 2011 and, like those before him, will be charged with achieving the Champions League success that has hitherto proved elusive.
PSG have never won Europe’s most prestigious club competition and came closest when they lost to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.
They have been knocked out of the last 16 in five of the last seven seasons, losing at that stage to Bayern’s most recent season. That defeat cost Galtier dearly.
Good news for Neymar?
Luis Enrique arrives in the Champions League with pedigree, having won it as coach of Barcelona in 2015 with a brilliant team led by an attack of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
He now joins a club embarking on its final rebuild following Messi’s departure following his two-year stay.
The identity of the new coach could be good news for Neymar, who has been linked with a departure from the Parc des Princes.
The Brazilian enjoyed three outstanding years under Luis Enrique at Camp Nou, which saw Barca win two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey, a UEFA Super Cup and a Club World Cup, as well as the Champions League.
Several high-profile new signings are expected to be confirmed as PSG prepare to begin pre-season preparations, with a tour to Japan scheduled for later this month.
Paris will start defending the Ligue 1 title against Lorient on the weekend of August 12-13.
Luis Enrique left Barca in 2017 and became coach of Spain in 2018. However, he called it quits in June 2019 and announced the death of his nine-year-old daughter from bone cancer two months later.
He returned to Spain in November that year and took them to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and the 2021 UEFA Nations League Final before being sacked after their elimination from last year’s World Cup in the last 16 in a penalty shoot-out against Morocco.
Galtier had only one season left in charge and had one year left on his contract, but his departure was expected.
He led PSG to the league title, but that success was overshadowed by their exit from the Champions League.
The final weeks of Galtier’s reign were also marred by allegations that he made racist remarks about players during his previous job at Nice.
He has vehemently denied the allegations but will face trial in December in the case.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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