Kylian Mbappe has stated that he wishes to remain at Paris St-Germain for the time being but will not extend his contract beyond 2024. The 24-year-old forward’s deal expires after next season, with the option of another year.
L’Equipe reported on Monday that Mbappe had decided against taking up the option of a one-year extension to his deal. According to a report, the 2018 World Cup winner confirmed his decision in a letter to PSG.
However, Mbappe has dismissed reports that he wants to join Real Madrid this summer as “lies”.
Mbappe has not asked to leave but won’t commit beyond 2024
On Tuesday he tweeted he “will continue” at PSG, but a letter from his camp said next season would be his last at the club. Mbappe says PSG were first told on 15 July, 2022 of his decision to reject the extension and that the letter to the club was simply “to confirm what had already been spoken about”.
The statement from Mbappe’s camp, given through the AFP, read: “After having publicly declared in recent weeks that he will be a Parisian next season, Kylian Mbappe did not ask for his departure this summer, but merely confirmed to the club that he was not activating his additional year.
“The management of the club in charge of its extension (signed on May 21, 2022) was informed of its decision on July 15, 2022, and the sole purpose of the email was to confirm what had already been orally clarified previously.
“Mbappe and his entourage claim they have not discussed this point with the club again during the year, except 15 days ago to announce the sending of the letter. Nor has any possible new extension been mentioned.
“Finally, Mbappe and his entourage regret that the receipt of this letter has been transmitted to the media and that these exchanges are made public with the sole aim of damaging his image and the smooth running of conversations with the club.”
Mbappe could leave for free next summer
If Mbappe was to remain in Paris without signing an extension he would be free to negotiate and sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club from January. PSG have already lost Lionel Messi on a free transfer after the Argentine world cup winner left at the end of his two-year contract to join Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami. Given Mbappe’s age, value and profile the Qatar Sports Investments owned club are unwilling to allow him to leave for free at the end of his contract. This means that unless the 24-year-old forward could be persuaded to sign an extension he would have to be sold this window. A January departure would be much more difficult to handle, and PSG would probably have to settle for a lower transfer fee.
Ongoing Interest from Real Madrid
Last summer Mbappe turned down interest from Real Madrid to sign his current PSG contract, with the deal running for two years and including a player option to extend the agreement by 12 months. The forward has scored 212 goals in 260 games since joining from Monaco in 2017 in a deal eventually worth €180m after an initial loan. He has won five league titles in his six seasons at PSG and has been Ligue 1’s top scorer in each of the last five seasons. At international level he has 38 goals in 68 games for France.
There is understood to be disappointment over Mbappe’s stance at PSG, as it had been felt that their leading scorer had bought in to the club’s strategy to recruit young French players as the club strive to find the right formula to win the Champions League, a title which has so far proved to be elusive.
As for Mbappe’s future, the mutual interest between the Frenchman and Real Madrid has been well documented in the past. However, it is far from certain that the timing will be right. Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have also been mentioned.
