Mbappe scores as sub to help PSG see off Nantes

Mbappe, who plans to leave PSG at the end of the season, came off the bench and secured the victory after Lucas Hernandez's deflected strike.

 

KYLIAN Mbappe came off the bench and scored a penalty as Paris Saint-Ger­main beat Nantes 2-0 on Saturday after the France captain informed the club this week he plans to leave at the end of the season.

 

Lucas Hernandez's deflected strike broke the deadlock on the hour at the Stade de la Beaujoire before Mbappe made sure of the points after he was fouled inside the area.

 

PSG stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to 14 points with a record-ex­tending 12th title surely now a formality after Nice suffered a fifth loss in nine games Friday.

 

The main talking point in Paris though will be the future of Mbappe, who is seemingly entering the final months of a seven-year stint with the French champions.

 

The 25-year-old has told club of­ficials he intends to depart on a free transfer when his contract expires, and has been widely tipped to move to Real Madrid.

 

It is understood that Mbappe's exit will be formally announced in a few months' time.

 

"It's all going very well with Mbappe, there's no problem," PSG coach Luis Enrique told Canal Plus after the game.

 

PSG toiled for an hour without the league's top scorer as Mbappe, who struck in the 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the Champions League in midweek, started on the bench in Nantes. — AFP