Maybe this was a glimpse into the future.
On Saturday evening, Paris Saint-Germain played against Nantes without Kylian Mbappe in the starting line-up. After playing 90 minutes against visiting Real Sociedad in the Champions League in midweek and then privately announcing his intention to leave PSG at the end of the season, Mbappe was dropped by coach Luis Enrique.
The striker had sat on the bench ahead of the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Lille on Saturday – a precautionary measure because of an ankle injury – but otherwise his appearance as a substitute has been rare in the last seven years.
In the context of what happened last week, it felt symbolic of a shift in power.
Had his confession of his impending departure ended his untouchability status and eased the rotation? Luis Enrique preferred a simpler consideration. “There was a Champions League game during the week and we needed energy to be competitive,” he said after his team’s 2-0 away win. “We had to give game time to those who didn't have it in Europe. Our goal is ambitious and I need all players involved to achieve it.”
But this image in Nantes, a PSG team without Mbappe, will soon become the norm. A team without a famous personality. The spotlight and the pressure that comes with it will be on the champions and current Ligue 1 leaders. But they will also lose a game-changer who – as he inevitably showed when he came on after an hour on Saturday – can come off the bench, embarrass an opponent to win a penalty, score it and take a to end the game.
PSG has gotten used to these moments of brilliance from Mbappe. But now change is coming.
The impact will be enormous.
Mbappe still made an impression as a substitute in Nantes (Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Preparing for life after Mbappe was not an unforeseen possibility for PSG. Speculation about his future has been a regular and often tiring soap opera that has continued in almost every transfer window over the past two years. Now, however, the conclusion feels more concrete. This may not have been publicly announced nor officially agreed to by his new club. But this time it's real.
Mbappe will leave PSG in the summer. And PSG needs to focus on life without him.
This won't be easy. Mbappe is not just any old player – and not just because of his talent. He is the most influential French player to ever wear his jersey. He may have insisted the club wasn't “Kylian Saint-Germain” in a marketing dispute last year, but at least in recent times it's hard to escape the veracity of that description.
Mbappe is arguably the best player in the world today and has established himself as PSG's record goalscorer at the age of 25. He has set several records since he was signed on loan from Ligue 1 rivals Monaco at the age of 18 in the summer of 2017, then turned into a €180 million (now €153.8 million) permanent move a year later pounds; 193.7 million US dollars).
He has scored the most goals for PSG both domestically and in Europe, as well as the most hat-tricks, the most doubles and the most goals in a single game (five). He helped France win the World Cup during that time, scored goals in consecutive World Cup finals, including a hat-trick, won the tournament's Golden Boot and later captained France. He is the most prolific and consistent goalscorer the French league has ever seen since Jean-Pierre Papin played for Marseille in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
If he wins Ligue 1's Golden Boot again this season (almost certain: he has scored 21 goals, second-placed Wissam Ben Yedder of Monaco has 11), he would have won this award six times in a row – no player has ever done that made.
How on earth do you fill the gap in the Grand Canyon?
A heartbroken Mbappe leaves the 2022 World Cup with the Golden Boot after France lost to Argentina in the final (Mohammad Karamali/Defodi Images via Getty Images)
It's one thing on the field. That being said, his achievements are not only among the greats, but surpass most of them.
Mbappe's relationship with his hometown club felt transactional at times; a feigned emotional connection while garnering international attention, impressive brand embellishments, and enormous financial rewards. That may be why his relationship with PSG fans hasn't always seemed perfect – one could even argue that simply because of the repetition of those transfer sagas, he may not have achieved the level of admiration his achievements deserve.
But there is no doubt that he is shown affection.
It was telling that earlier this season, after Mbappé was sidelined when the club issued its “extend or be sold” ultimatum, fans found themselves near the Virage Auteuil – a stand at PSG's Parc des Princes stadium, which is frequented by club ultras – were reluctant to discuss the topic when approached by The Athletic. Instead, they acknowledged the delicate balance of this situation, respecting the club's position but also pointing out the risk of losing a beloved player.
The supporters also held back their fire on Saturday. The club's enthusiastic fans have booed Mbappe before because of the intrigue and uncertainty surrounding his future, but the away players in Nantes did not boo him.
Mbappe is a global but local star – he was born on the outskirts of Paris and is now a global ambassador for his country and a player who has proudly worn the PSG jersey. Losing him is a huge blow; and even more so when it is confirmed that he will be joining a rival for the coveted Champions League, Real Madrid.
As fans also face the unpleasant prospect of PSG leaving the Parc des Princes, their home since 1974, just four years after the club's founding, uncertainty about the club's future identity also increases.
PSG will be seen differently without Mbappe.
PSG fans unfurl a flag with the image of Mbappe at the Parc des Princes (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
The club has already started regeneration.
Last summer was the start when they parted ways with both Lionel Messi and Neymar, declaring that their “superstar” era was over and that PSG would instead move to a younger, more cohesive team, one with a longer-term focus built – and with a clear playing philosophy – in mind.
More than €300 million was spent on talent, 13 new faces were signed and new head coach Luis Enrique was appointed. In January, two more young players, Lucas Beraldo and Gabriel Moscardo, were added. The average age of the team has dropped dramatically.
PSG has also opened a new €300 million training ground that brings together all aspects of the club – not just the men's, women's and academy football teams, but also their judo and handball teams – at one site in Poissy, in the west of the city .
They have also found new funding through American investment firm Arctos, which, like all people interviewed for this article, club sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect their relationships, could see their sole “state-backed” status diluted could. It is expected that further investments will be made.
But it's the loss of their final “Galactico” that really closes the door on what came before.
That should at least mean a reduction in the off-field dramas that reached their peak last summer when Mbappe was excluded from the club's pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea after Messi's unauthorized trips and subsequent suspension and was forced to train with the fringe players of the club.
The idea that “the club is above all else,” a point emphasized by President Nasser Al-Khelaifi in a pre-season speech to players, may be easier to enforce. Mbappe's influence always seemed to be above what most clubs would consider normal; His contract extension is intended to give him a say in recruitment and the appointment of some key personnel, such as Luis Campos, PSG's football advisor, who works on a consultancy basis in recruitment.
On the other hand, this development means a loss of the spotlight and of course the departure of a truly elite talent. This most recent era may not have managed to win the Champions League they longed for, but it has offered almost certainty of success. During his time at the club, Mbappe has won five titles and is well on his way to becoming number six. He won the two national cups a total of five times (before the League Cup was canceled in 2020).
Mbappe and PSG celebrate winning Ligue 1 last season (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)
PSG may have paraded him triumphantly with a shirt emblazoned with '2025' when they signed Mbappé to new terms just two years ago, but they say they have been with him from the moment this saga exploded last summer prepared for his departure using a two-pronged approach.
From a sporting perspective, this represents a continuation of their “long-term” project under Luis Enrique, which has seen some public statements downplaying the “necessity” of winning the Champions League. This project means continuing to operate on the market. On their list of summer targets, as The Athletic has reported, are Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Barcelona midfielder Gavi. It is expected that there will be several reinforcements. PSG wants to remain an elite club even after Mbappe's departure and will try to fill the void if possible.
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There are already good players on the field. Take 21-year-old Bradley Barcola, who has already indicated with his recent performances that he has exciting potential for a left-wing position – and he will face competition from also 20-year-old Xavi Simons, who is currently on a season-long loan at RB Leipzig in Germany. In the central attacking position that Mbappe often held, PSG have the options of 25-year-old Randal Kolo Muani and 22-year-old Goncalo Ramos, who signed contracts worth a combined €170 million last summer, ahead of further moves in the market be considered .
There are more youngsters too – none more exciting than homegrown midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, who is close to signing a new long-term contract, probably after he turns 18 early next month.
Tactically speaking, Mbappe's departure will mark the final departure of a player who goes beyond tactical instructions.
“He plays wherever he wants; he has complete freedom,” Luis Enrique said in December. “He has complete freedom to play indoors and outdoors wherever he wants and we have to balance our positions in relation to him. The question is who will follow Kylian by attacking inside or outside; It will depend on the game.”
This year, Luis Enrique has fiddled with Mbappé's position in his team, moving him from an outside wing to a central role. But his departure also means the loss of a match winner – as was seen again on Saturday. Replacing his goals will be difficult. His 21 league goals this season are 15 more than any of his teammates.
According to the company, they are also financially prepared for both eventualities. They point out that Mbappé cost them 200 million euros a year in salaries and that the investments will now partly go towards their recruitment plans. Added to this is the leeway created by significant departures last summer, including the departures of Neymar and Marco Verratti – players who demanded transfer fees in addition to the club's transfer fees.
However, all of this has commercial implications.
Club sources have tried to play down the impact Mbappe's departure will have, certainly in the short term, on commercial contracts, the majority of which have longer terms. PSG's collaboration with sportswear brand Jordan, for example, is set to continue for at least two more years, with both parties already working on future designs, while its agreement with Nike, Jordan's parent company, runs until 2032.
They also point to broadening their horizons with several players who can now grow out of Mbappe's shadow and those who can open up new markets – such as South Korea international Lee Kang-in.
The club's profile has grown significantly in recent years and can now assert itself beyond football.
Lee Kang-in (Aurelien Meunier – PSG/PSG via Getty Images)
But there's no denying that Mbappe is the closest thing to a Michael Jordan – a globally recognized star whose influence off the pitch reflects her achievements on it and who has a legion of fans who will watch and buy regardless of club loyalty Get tickets to watch them play and be aware of which companies they work with. Some of that audience will leave if Mbappe does.
PSG points out that the club has continued to grow despite the departures of Messi and Neymar last summer, but Mbappe will not be easy to overcome.
His exit will also have implications for Ligue 1, which is in the process of negotiating a new domestic television rights package after its broadcast auction was halted in October after no offers were received.
Losing Mbappe so quickly after Messi and Neymar moved on is a huge blow.
When it comes to new partner Arctos, PSG sources insist that Mbappé's departure is not a problem as it would represent a significant burden to invest so much in a person who could be injured at any time.
There may also be other consequences.
Campos, the club's football advisor, moved to PSG as part of negotiations to convince Mbappe to extend his contract in 2022. His own fate is linked to that of Mbappe, so there is a possibility that this transfer will mark the end of his reign, too. Campos, of course, played a major role in the club's summer renovation last year and is now preparing for the next phase of the project, suggesting they still value his contribution. One assumes he is keen to stay; What he implements in the next few months could be crucial to whether he makes it.
Luis Campos (Franco Arland/Getty Images)
In the short term, it remains to be seen how all of this will impact the rest of PSG's 2023/24 season. The players are still adapting to Luis Enrique's philosophy and remain a team in transition. When it comes to Mbappe's future, this has always been a key sticking point: balancing a player who wants to achieve everything in the here and now with a long-term project.
The reality now is that the clock is ticking for Mbappe to achieve his ultimate goal of bringing the European Cup to Paris. It has to happen this season. This adds to the pressure, even though Al-Khelaifi has outwardly explained to Luis Enrique that competition is no longer the club's be-all and end-all.
“We want to win it, like all teams, but we don't feel any special pressure or obligation,” midfielder Fabian Ruiz said last week.
The certainty of Mbappe's departure takes away some of the speculation, although it has not yet been officially confirmed. It begins with a long farewell that could shake up the team. For once, there will be no distracting chatter about what he will or won't do in the summer.
PSG can now look to the future and implement the plans it has been preparing for a long time.
But no matter how much work has been put into preparation, the loss of a player of Mbappe's caliber will have a major impact. Both and off the field.
(Top photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)