The dispute between Paris St Germain and Kylian Mbappé is on the verge of escalation. The goal-scorer has reportedly told the club that he will not be making a move this summer
The football world is speculating about where Kylian Mbappé will play in the new season. For himself, however, the matter is probably clear: at Paris St. Germain. As Le Parisien reported on Thursday, the 24-year-old attacker told PSG boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi in a one-on-one meeting on Tuesday that he would stay under any circumstances and thus fulfil his contract, which expires on 30 June 2024.
It would be exactly the scenario that Al-Khelaifi has been trying hard to prevent for weeks. But apparently neither his deadline of 31 July nor the threat to banish Mbappé to the stands if he stays without extending his contract has had the desired effect. In order to leave on a free transfer in a year’s time – probably to Real Madrid – it seems that the World Cup top scorer is also prepared to take this risk.
After not being allowed to take part in the preparation tour to Japan, he has since been left out and continues to be part of the “training group 2”, which also includes Julian Draxler or Georginio Wijnaldum, who have been sorted out. Mbappé is unlikely to be part of the squad when PSG start the new Ligue 1 season against FC Lorient on Saturday. New coach Luis Enrique, who has so far remained silent on the whole affair, is facing a debut accompanied by a lot of background noise.
PSG have told Kylian Mbappé he won’t play for the club this season if he stays to run out his contract.
He’s not allowed to train with the first team.
But he’s reportedly told PSG he won’t be leaving under any circumstances this summer ♂️ pic.twitter.com/q3iQdwiAq7
– B/R Football (@brfootball) August 10, 2023
Real has other things to worry about now
It seems hard to imagine that PSG, who are aiming for the Champions League title as they do every year and still haven’t won it, will actually isolate their best player for a year – just as it seems hard to imagine that Mbappé will accept playing for the national team for months at best. So things continue to simmer.
There are reports in Spain on Wednesday that Real have refrained from signing Mbappé immediately. According to the report, the search for a new goalkeeper is the main focus after Thibaut Courtois tore his cruciate ligament and will be out for months. The Royals are also in action for the first time on Saturday evening (9.30 p.m. at Athletic Bilbao).
