Luis Enrique Sets Price Tag to Bench Kylian Mbappe vs Barcelona in UEFA Champions League

Kylian Mbappe‘s PSG stint is nearing an end with each passing day. But that is not stopping the World Cup winner from going guns blazing. The Frenchman completed a stunning hat trick against Montpellier and scored his 250th PSG goal in 200 appearances. PSG and coach Luis Enrique would want the Frenchman to sustain this form in their crucial UEFA Champions League quarterfinal encounter against FC Barcelona. Hence, there’s a chance in hell that the Spanish manager would sideline him against Barca. But in a surprising turn, Enrique hinted he would snub the 25-year-old for the heavyweight UCL clash for an eight-figure sum.

During a recent Twitch stream, Enrique was asked how many subscribers he needed to start Kylian Mbappé as a center-back against FCB. “Not subs, but donate $4 or $5m to this charity foundation and maybe I can rest Kylian. Send me the invoice,” the PSG boss replied jokingly. The former Barcelona coach mentioned charity because he took to Twitch after announcing the inauguration of the Xana Foundation. The foundation is a charity organization named after Enrique’s daughter Xana who passed away at the age of nine due to cancer.

PSG faces Barcelona in the two legs of the UCL quarter-finals on April 10 and April 16. Enrique has already sounded off his confidence, fancying a final against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City or Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Save reaching the final, the Spanish boss and PSG badly need Mbappe’s services to stand their ground against Barca. Hence, the Frenchman’s presence for the PSG-Barca tie is a foregone conclusion. But what might have prompted someone to speak or even think of the PSG coach benching a player of Mbappe’s stature? Well, the dynamic between the coach and the star player has made the limelight as it gave way toscrutiny.

When Enrique upset Kylian Mbappé by sidelining him

Luis Enrique and Kylian Mbappé’s relationship arguably started to rupture ever since the latter decided to leave PSG for Real Madrid. Since then, Enrique has benched the French captain for more than an hour in three different matches in 2024. Notably, Mbappe has never been a substitute in his entire PSG career till then. When concerns loomed over the situation, Enrique said he was preparing the team to play without the star striker. The Spaniard’s thinking holds weight as the 25-year-old’s probable departure to the Santiago Bernabeu is closer than ever.

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However, the French striker’s constant benching became a scorching topic for fans and analysts. The Parisian club had significantly reduced Adrien Rabiot’s playing time after he rejected the club’s offer for a contract renewal. Mbappe also rejected PSG’s Qatari owners’ lucrative advances and is willing to take a pay cut to join Madrid. Hence, many connected the reduction in Mbappe’s play time to him rejecting PSG’s offer. Anyhow, it is solely the 25-year-old who keeps PSG’s UCL title dreams alive, as they lace up to meet the Blaugrana men. What do you make of the playful retort by Luis Enrique after the diminished role of the Frenchman in recent games? Let us know in the comments section below.

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