ALL EYES ON PSG
Kylian Mbappe in focus as Paris giants take field
Kylian Mbappe takes centrestage on Friday as the French league returns from the international break with Paris Saint-Germain taking on Metz where they will unleash their latest marquee recruit.
The 18-year-old starlet joined PSG on a seasonlong loan from champions Monaco in a deal that includes the option to buy Mbappe for a fee rising to 180 million euros ($215 million), the second most expensive transfer in history.
“It’s a great pleasure to join this club, it’s one of the best in the world,” Mbappe said as he was unveiled at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
“It’s extremely ambitious and wants to become the best. It’s putting everything in place to make that goal more than possible and that’s important to me,” he added.
The France international is set to make his PSG debut away at rock-bottom Metz on Friday with Unai Emery’s side chasing a fifth successive win to maintain their perfect start to the season.
Metz are the only team without a point in Ligue 1 this term and need no introduction to Mbappe who scored a hat-trick against them in a 5-0 Monaco victory last February.
Emery confirmed Mbappe was ready for selection, and an injury to Angel Di Maria while on World Cup duty with Argentina could prompt the Spaniard to thrust the teenager into a fearsome front three alongside world-record signing Neymar and Edinson Cavani.
“These are players who for the most part have won everything already, it’s going to be a rewarding experience,” Mbappe said of his new teammates.
“I have a lot to learn and a lot to prove,” the Frenchman added.