Paris St-Germain’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea is underway, but there’s a notable absence in their squad. Kylian Mbappe, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, has been left out due to a contract dispute that is sending ripples through the football world.
Mbappe, the France forward, is in the final year of his contract with PSG, which ends next summer. The 22-year-old has refused to sign a year’s extension, indicating his desire to seek new horizons after the upcoming season. PSG, however, is not willing to let him go for free when his contract expires, and they aim to secure a transfer fee by selling him now.
The talented striker has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, and it’s widely believed that he wants to join the Spanish club at the end of the forthcoming season. Despite PSG’s strong position, with Mbappe being the second most expensive player in history when he joined from AS Monaco in 2017 for £165.7m, they find themselves in a tough spot.
Mbappe’s on-field performance has been nothing short of exceptional since joining PSG, scoring an impressive 212 goals in 260 games. However, PSG’s chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, is firm in his stance, stating that it is “impossible” to allow Mbappe to leave for free in 2024.
Numerous clubs have shown interest in signing the young star, and PSG would be willing to sell him this summer. But it seems unlikely that Mbappe would accept any deal at this point, as he seems determined to make his dream move to Real Madrid next year.
This ongoing situation has put PSG in a challenging position. Despite their financial resources, they narrowly won Ligue 1 last season, finishing just a point ahead of RC Lens. Their Champions League campaign ended disappointingly in the last 16, losing to Bayern Munich.
Adding to the upheaval, PSG recently parted ways with their manager, Christophe Galtier, who was replaced by the experienced Luis Enrique. Another blow came with Lionel Messi’s departure this summer. The Argentine, whose country defeated Mbappe’s France in the World Cup final in Qatar last December, has joined Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
As the football world watches closely, PSG must navigate these uncertainties while deciding the fate of their star forward, Kylian Mbappe. The tension surrounding his future remains palpable, and his next move could have significant implications for both PSG and Real Madrid.