Mbappé’s rocky PSG exit: family tensions, Real Madrid dreams, and Al-Khelaifi drama

The saga between Kylian Mbappé and Paris Saint-Germain has just kicked into high gear. According to details revealed by French newspaper L'Équipe, the relationship between the French forward and the Parisian club-especially with president Nasser Al-Khelaifi-completely collapsed over the star's attempt to transfer to Real Madrid. These events highlighted not only the power play in PSG but also how those backroom decisions affected team dynamics, even enmeshing Ethan Mbappé, Kylian's younger brother, into the web.

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Spark Number One: Real Madrid as Dream Destination

Mbappé had made it very clear some time ago to PSG that his desired transfer was to no other team than Real Madrid. As his contract was set to expire, he did not plan on renewing it in order to finally fulfill his dream with Los Blancos. But this was unthinkable for Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The president of Paris Saint-German, who was one of the most powerful men in European soccer and directly connected with the Qatari government, tried to cut off every path that would take him to Santiago Bernabéu.

This was really where the temperatures started rising. According to L'Équipe, Al-Khelaifi tried to "forbid" Mbappé from signing with the Spanish club-a move that, to the French star, seemed more like an attempt at control than a genuine request. Mbappé's response? A sarcastic laugh, which many took as a clear show of disdain for his president's tactics. From that point onward, their already strained relationship only worsened.

Isolation and Persistence: Luis Enrique's Role

Communication between player and president was virtually cut off; on at least one occasion, Al-Khelaifi is reportedly having directly commanded then-PSG coach Luis Enrique to bench Mbappé from the first team. This kind of "punishment" is, of course, a common enough tactic when management is displeased with a player, but in the case of Mbappé, it took on a whole new dimension. Luis Enrique would resist the pressure from the president because he knew just how important the striker was to him.

The coach opted for a less dramatic approach: instead of taking him off the squad, he started to restrict Mbappé's minutes and replaced him in certain matches. This kept the star active while relaying an indirect message that his place on the team was not untouchable. This did little to dissipate the tension, with Mbappé feeling he was being progressively frozen out, although that did not stop him from continuing with his commitment to see out his contract.

Family Involvement: Ethan Mbappé Enters the Scene

What really heightened the diplomatic row further down the lane was the involvement of Ethan Mbappé, Kylian's younger brother and a talented PSG youngster. According to L'Équipe, he was not in the lineup to play a match against Toulouse in Ligue 1, something seen as an act of retaliation against Kylian for his resolve to see the exit doors of the club. Imagine the impact: Ethan at just 17 years into his career, now bearing the pressure and weight of his older brother's battles with PSG's management.

Kylian came home to find his little brother in tears following the news of his exclusion, which naturally heightened matters. To Kylian, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. He immediately went and confronted Al-Khelaifi, demanding explanations and thus provoking another heated exchange with the president. It was another internal rupture, making it evident the relationship between Mbappé and PSG had turned irreparably bad.