Luis Enrique was appointed as the brand new coach of Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday on a two-year deal, however his unveiling was overshadowed by ongoing questions on the way forward for Kylian Mbappe. The 53-year-old former Barcelona coach, who had been a free agent since being sacked by Spain final December, replaces Christophe Galtier after his departure was confirmed earlier within the day. Luis Enrique was unveiled at a press convention alongside the Qatar-backed membership’s president Nasser al-Khelaifi at their new coaching advanced in Poissy, north-west of the French capital.

“I’m delighted to be joining Paris in order to enjoy a new experience,” Luis Enrique mentioned in a membership assertion. “It’s so exciting to meet new people, to live in this city, to learn a new language and, above all, to manage PSG.”

Yet when requested whether or not he had been given any ensures that celebrity ahead Mbappe would stay on the membership for the approaching marketing campaign, he was evasive.

The Spaniard later insisted he was “counting on all the players who are under contract”.

However, Khelaifi said that Mbappe, 24, “must sign a new contract” if he desires to stay at PSG within the coming season.

“The position is very clear. If Kylian wants to stay, he must sign a new contract. We can’t let the best player in the world today leave for free. It’s impossible,” Khelaifi mentioned.

“He said he would not leave for free. If somebody has changed his mind, that is not my fault.”

Mbappe declared final month that he wouldn’t prolong his contract, which expires subsequent 12 months.

The membership should subsequently promote the participant within the present switch window, in any other case they are going to doubtless lose him for nothing when his deal ends.

Real Madrid hoped to signal Mbappe a 12 months in the past earlier than he penned a brand new contract in Paris. The Spanish giants are favourites to safe the striker if he does ultimately change golf equipment.

The new coach is the eighth man to steer the membership for the reason that transformative Qatari takeover of 2011 and, like these earlier than him, will probably be charged with bringing them the success within the Champions League that has thus far proved elusive.

PSG have by no means received Europe’s most prestigious membership competitors, coming closest after they misplaced within the 2020 ultimate to Bayern Munich.

They have gone out within the final 16 in 5 of the final seven seasons, dropping to Bayern at that stage in the newest marketing campaign. That defeat proved pricey for Galtier.

Good information for Neymar?

Luis Enrique arrives with pedigree within the Champions League, having received it as coach of Barcelona in 2015 with a superb workforce led by an assault of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

He now joins a membership starting their newest rebuild following the departure of Messi after his two-year keep.

The identification of the brand new coach may very well be excellent news for Neymar, who has been linked with a transfer away from the Parc des Princes.

The Brazilian loved three excellent years beneath Luis Enrique on the Camp Nou, wherein time Barca received La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey 3 times, a UEFA Super Cup and a Club World Cup in addition to the Champions League.

Several high-profile new signings are anticipated to be confirmed as PSG put together to start out pre-season coaching, with a tour to Japan scheduled for later this month.

Paris will start their defence of the Ligue 1 title in opposition to Lorient on the weekend of August 12 and 13.

Luis Enrique left Barca in 2017 and have become Spain coach in 2018. However, he give up in June 2019 and introduced the dying of his nine-year-old daughter from bone most cancers two months later.

He returned to the Spain submit in November of that 12 months and took them to the Euro 2020 semi-finals and the 2021 UEFA Nations League ultimate earlier than being fired after their elimination from final 12 months’s World Cup within the final 16 in a penalty shoot-out in opposition to Morocco.

Galtier had solely been in cost for one season and nonetheless had a 12 months to run on his contract, however his departure had been anticipated.

He led PSG to the league title however that success was overshadowed by their exit from the Champions League.

The ultimate weeks of Galtier’s reign have been additionally marred by accusations that he made racist remarks about gamers throughout his earlier job at Nice.

He has vehemently denied the accusations however will stand trial within the case in December.

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