French football sensation Kylian Mbappe has returned to Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) first team after a period of absence due to an ongoing contract dispute.
The highly anticipated move comes as PSG began their Ligue 1 title defense with a goalless draw against Lorient on Saturday, with Mbappe watching from the sidelines.
Following constructive discussions between the player and the club prior to the PSG-Lorient match, Mbappe was reinstated into the first team’s training session, as announced by PSG in an official statement.
The summer transfer window has seen significant changes at the Parc des Princes, including the departure of Lionel Messi and the arrival of new players. However, it is the Mbappe contract situation that has captured the spotlight.
Mbappe, who is also the captain of the French national team, has declined to sign an extension to his PSG contract, making him eligible to leave the club for free next year. His preferred destination has been widely reported as Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, PSG is eager to secure a transfer fee for the player, who was acquired for a staggering 180 million euros ($198 million) from Monaco in 2017.
The recent appointment of new coach Luis Enrique has brought hope for a resolution to the impasse.
Although Mbappe was initially excluded from training with the first team and omitted from the squad to face Lorient, his return marks a positive step forward.
During his absence, Mbappe was seen alongside fellow 2018 World Cup winner Ousmane Dembele, who finalized his transfer from Barcelona on the same day.
