Paris Saint-Germain have more or less given their biggest star an ultimatum.
Nearly a month after Kylian Mbappe told PSG he would not renew his contract after this upcoming season, the club’s president, Nasser El-Khelafi, told reporters on Wednesday that he would soon consider moving on from Mbappe.
Mbappe, 24, has one year left on his contract but also has a player option to extend his contract until 2025. Even though Mbappe can play for PSG in 2023, Al-Khelafi has effectively confirmed that the club is looking to move him elsewhere. Build the team now and collect whatever huge fee is required rather than let Mbappe leave for nothing at the end of next season.
Al-Khelafi said, “In football standards, you never see your best player leaving the club for free.” “That never happens.”
Al-Khelafi’s claim about Mbappe’s position in the world cannot be disputed either. He scored 40 goals for PSG last season, with Manchester City second only to Erling Haaland’s incredible 52 goals among all players in the game. Mbappé and PSG also won the Ligue 1 title for the second consecutive season and fifth time during his tenure with the club.
But PSG has faltered on the international stage. The club had lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16 the previous season – failing to progress further for the second year in a row. PSG made it to the final in 2020, but lost 1–0 to Bayern.
Which team can afford Mbappe? Well, Real Madrid appear to be the most likely contenders History of the club’s courtship with the French star, But any top club would probably want a piece of Mbappe and his magic with the ball.
The stage is set for a dramatic end to Mbappe’s tenure with PSG. It looks and feels like it’s a matter of when, not if.