Mbappe returns to training with PSG first team

This decision came after a conversation between the French striker and the board of directors on August 12, before PSG drew 0-0 with Lorient at Parc des Princes in the opening round of Ligue 1 2023-2024. In this match, Mbappe sat in the stands with new striker Ousmane Dembele.

"After a very positive and constructive conversation between PSG and Mbappe before the match against Lorient, the French player returned to training with the first team this morning," PSG announced on August 13.

According to Sky Sports, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told the entire PSG team before the morning training session on August 13: "Mbappe is committed to PSG and has returned." The two sides have resolved their differences when Mbappe pledged not to leave the club for free and will likely extend his contract until 2025.

Mbappe changed his mind, giving up the idea of ​​leaving as a free agent in the summer of 2024 to avoid being banned from playing by PSG throughout the 2023-2024 season.

Previously, new coach Luis Enrique expressed his hope that Mbappe and the board of directors would find a positive solution to help PSG prepare best for the new season. "This is something that happened before and they agreed on a positive solution before I arrived here," the Spanish coach said at a press conference before the match against Lorient. "I hope and wish that, like in the past, the same thing will happen again, when Mbappe and the club find a common voice."

PSG's desire to sell Neymar is believed to be part of the reason why Mbappe changed his mind. Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal and Barca are the two most potential destinations for the Brazilian striker. Neymar has a three-year contract and is not considered a key factor by new head coach Luis Enrique, who wants to build a younger, more ambitious team. Sky Sports said PSG wanted to collect at least $65 million, a fee far below the record $263 million that PSG spent to break Neymar's contract with Barca in the summer of 2017.

Last summer, Mbappe was also said to be "disappointed" when PSG extended Neymar's contract until 2027, and wanted the Parc des Princes owners to quickly sell their senior striker. The relationship between the two star strikers broke down after a dispute over a penalty kick in the 5-2 win over Montpellier on August 13.

Since returning to PSG after the summer break, Mbappe has been left out of the squad for the Asian tour and has been forced to train with players who are no longer part of the club's plans, including Georginio Wijnaldum, Julian Draxler, Leandro Paredes, Colin Dagba, Edouard Michut and Abdou Diallo. This comes after the 2018 World Cup winner sent a letter to PSG's board of directors to announce his decision not to activate the option to extend his contract by another year, until the summer of 2025, and is determined to leave as a free agent next summer.

But with the conflict resolved, the 24-year-old striker will return from the match against Toulouse in the second round of Ligue 1 on August 19. He is expected to combine with two new players Goncalo Ramos and Dembele to form a new attack for PSG, replacing Lionel Messi and Neymar in the last two seasons.

Mbappe joined PSG on loan from Monaco in the summer of 2017, before being bought outright in the summer of 2018 for $200 million. The French striker immediately became a mainstay of PSG with 212 goals and 98 assists in 260 matches in all competitions, helping the club win five Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups, two French League Cups and two French Super Cups.

According to VnExpress