Kylian Mbappe tells PSG he will leave when contract ends in 2024, may be sold earlier
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This opens the door to Kylian Mbappe’s possible exit from PSG during this summer’s transfer window.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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PARIS – Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain that he will not take up the option of a one-year extension in his contract when it expires in June 2024, French daily L’Equipe reported on Monday.
The forward, a World Cup winner with France in 2018 and a runner-up at Qatar 2022, confirmed his decision in a letter to the club and could even be sold this summer as PSG will seek to avoid losing him for free, according to local reports.
The 24-year-old would be free to negotiate and sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club from January, should he decide to see out the remaining year of his deal at the French champions.
His decision comes after an awards ceremony in May when he was voted the Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the fourth successive time and was asked about his future. “I will be here again next season,” he replied then.
PSG, who are owned by Qatar Sports Investments, have already lost Lionel Messi on a free transfer after the Argentina captain left at the end of his two-year contract to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Mbappe was widely tipped to join Real Madrid last season but rejected a move to sign a contract extension with PSG.
“I have lots of respect for (Real president Florentino Perez) and for Real Madrid,” he had said in May 2022.
“They wanted to do a lot to make me happy. So I thank them for that. I’d also like to thank Real fans. I hope they’ll understand the fact I’ve chosen to stay (at PSG).”
Mbappe has long been admired by Real, who had a bid reported to be as high as €200 million (S$289.4 million) turned down in 2021.
Real, who have already agreed a deal to sign England midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, could step up their interest in Mbappe following striker Karim Benzema’s move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
Mbappe, one of the game’s finest talents who burst onto the scene as a teenager, has won five Ligue 1 titles with PSG but the Champions League trophy has remained out of reach.
The French giants signed him from Monaco in 2017 in a deal reported to be around €180 million, making him the world’s second-most expensive signing after Neymar, who joined them from Barcelona for €222 million.
Mbappe then became PSG’s all-time top scorer this season after netting 41 goals in 43 games in all competitions and helped the capital club win a record 11th French title.
He has 212 goals in total, 12 more than Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, who now plays for Valencia.
He was named France captain in March, after Hugo Lloris led Les Bleus to a second straight World Cup final in December, when Mbappe netted a hat-trick against Argentina before they lost on penalties. REUTERS, AFP
