Kylian Mbappe Withdrawn Out In The First Round, PSG Failed To Score Against AS Monaco

Kylian Mbappe only played 45 minutes in PSG's game which ended in a 0-0 draw against AS Monaco (photo: ig @k.mbappe)

JAKARTA - Kylian Mbappe only played 45 minutes in the PSG match which ended in a 0-0 draw against AS Monaco on Friday night March 1. He was forced to watch the second half of the stands with his mother.

Mbappe will leave PSG at the end of the season when his contract expires, and he will return up to 80 million euros in loyalty and other added bonuses, so the club will not lose money and have enough finances to buy a replacement.

The 25-year-old is in talks to move to Real Madrid this summer, although both sides have yet to reach an agreement on the contract. If he joins Los Blancos, Mbappe is expected to receive a substantial pay cut, but could off the deficit through bonuses, registration fees, and commercial benefits from playing at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mbappe's performance in Ligue 1 with PSG has been on the decline since news of his move broke publicly. He was substituted in the 65th minute of the 1-1 draw against Rennes last week - at that time his team lost - and he was substituted in the first half in a 0-0 draw against his former club Monaco and replaced by Randal Kolo Muani.

Instead of heading to the bench, Mbappe changed clothes and watched the second half of the stands with his mother at Stade Louis II. He then joined his team-mates on the pitch after the game ended.

Speaking to the press after the match, PSG head coach Luis Enrique explained his decision to withdraw Mbappe so quickly.

"I've been in the world of football for a long time, you have to know that everything is important at a club like this," Enrique said. " Faster than later, we're going to play without Mbappe so I'm looking for the best options for the team."

"Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong. We need to get used to it [playing without Mbappe]. I will do my best for my team. I don't want to create controversy, that's my decision," he said.

Enrique later added that he was not aware that Mbappe was watching the second half of the stands.

These results make PSG now 12 points ahead at the top of Ligue 1 standings, although that gap will decrease to nine if Brest in second place wins against Le Havre on Sunday, March 3. Mbappe remains the division's top scorer with 21 goals, deep ahead of Alexandre Lacazette of Lyon who is in second place with 12 goals.