Kylian Mbappe and Luis Enrique hold face-to-face talks following Monaco substitution row - as PSG boss feels forward is ‘not the same’ amid impending Real Madrid move

In the Ligue 1 encounter against the Red and Whites, Enrique replaced Mbappe with Randal Kolo Muani at half-time, which marked the second consecutive game where the French star was substituted earlier than the final whistle. After his substitution, Mbappe was spotted relaxing in the stands instead of being on the bench with his teammates, which sparked speculations of a growing discord between the two.

According to a report from RMC Sport, the pair held talks at the Paris Saint-Germain training centre on Saturday to bridge the gap. During the discussion, Enrique explained his decision to substitute Mbappe during the Monaco match and his overall treatment meted out to the player in the last few weeks.

Enrique allegedly believes that Mbappe has not been the same player since he picked up an ankle injury during the 3-1 win over Brest in the Coupe de France. The tactician also wants to manage his minutes and wants him at his 100 per cent for the Champions League fixture against Real Sociedad next week. Despite their differences, both parties aimed to resolve the situation constructively as the Parisians headed into the business end of the season.

Enrique had earlier insisted that he wanted to prepare PSG for a future without Mbappe. And playing in Ligue 1 without him makes more sense than in the European fixtures, where opponents are harder nuts to crack. PSG travel to Spain to take on Sociedad next with a 2-0 advantage already in the bag. And if they find an early goal at Anoeta, it won't be surprising if Mbappe is subbed again by his manager - who seems determined to reduce the team's reliance on the superstar.