The 18-year-old starlet joined PSG on a season-long loan from champions Monaco in a deal that includes the option to buy Mbappe.
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| Paris
Saint-Germain's new forward Kylian Mbappe smiles during a press
conference on his presentation at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris
on September 6, 2017 (AFP) Kylian Mbappe takes centre stage 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 season-long 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."
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 team-mates.
"I have a lot to learn and a lot to prove."
Di
Maria is set to miss several weeks with a thigh problem, while Italian
midfielder Marco Verratti remains suspended with several of PSG's South
American contingent only expected back on Thursday.
Falcao on fire
Monaco,
level with PSG at the top, will attempt to extend their record 16-match
winning run away to Cote d'Azur rivals Nice, whose third-place finish
last season is swiftly fading from memory.
The
title holders raided Serie A to draft in Montenegro striker Stevan
Jovetic and Senegal forward Keita Balde from Inter Milan and Lazio
respectively to try and fill the void left by Mbappe.
Monaco also have an in-form Radamel Falcao
to call upon, the Colombian has scored a league-leading seven times in
four outings and earned his country a vital World Cup qualifying point
in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Brazil.
Nice
have lost three times already this season, only once less than all of
the 2016-17 campaign, and were trounced 3-0 by top-flight newcomers
Amiens last time out.
Unbeaten Bordeaux
face Marcelo Bielsa's Lille on Friday, while Lyon host Guingamp on
Sunday with consecutive draws having somewhat stalled their early-season
charge.
Greece international Kostas
Mitroglou will have to wait for his Marseille debut as he is still a
fortnight away from a return from a thigh strain picked up in pre-season
with former club Benfica.
Marseille were
dealt a harsh reality check with a 6-1 thrashing by Monaco in their
previous match and will look to regain momentum when Rennes visit the
Stade Velodrome.
Saint-Etienne, third in
the table, entertain Angers as Oscar Garcia's side look to rebound from
their 3-0 defeat at PSG before the pause for international matches.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Friday
Lille v Bordeaux (1700), Metz v Paris Saint-Germain (1845)
Saturday
Nice v Monaco (1500), Caen v Dijon, Montpellier v Nantes, Strasbourg v Amiens, Troyes v Toulouse (all 1800)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Angers (1300), Lyon v Guingamp (1500), Marseille v Rennes (1900)
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