One more summer, Kylian Mbappé is once again one of the great protagonists of the transfer market. The soap opera has the same actors as always: PSG trying to retain its figure and Real Madrid as the main candidate to welcome him, even more so after the departure of Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia, which has left the white attack spear orphaned.
When the signing for Madrid was taken for granted last season, there was an unexpected script change: the Parisian club showered Mbappé in gold to extend his stay in the Parque de los Príncipes, until 2024, with one more year optional. Last Monday it came to light that the 24-year-old footballer has decided not to extend his contract and rumors returned that he could sign for the Madrid club this summer, news that Mbappé himself denied.
In a text issued by AFP on Tuesday, he assured that he wants to end his contract and in statements to Gazzetta dello Sport published this Wednesday, he clarified his position. “Lies. Increasingly bigger. I have already said that I will continue next season at PSG where I am very happy,” publishes the Italian newspaper. And it is explained: “I have not said that I wanted to be sold to Madrid or that I wanted to leave, only that I will not activate the option of the additional year (until 2025)”.
Mbappé clarified that “with PSG there has never been talk of a renewal”, since he has made the decision to leave when his contract expires since July of last year. “I want to win, but at PSG there are shortcomings.”
His desire is to remain at PSG, but Qatar does not look favorably on him leaving next summer without leaving anything in the club’s coffers. For this reason, they are considering a sale even less than the amount they paid at the time (180 million euros). According to ESPN, the starting price could be around 150 million. In 2021, he came to reject 200 ‘kilos’ that Madrid put on the table.
Also in Gazzetta dello Sport, Mbappé spoke about the departure of Leo Messi, which further weakens a team accustomed to only succeeding in the French league. “It’s never good news when someone like Messi, one of the best players in football history, leaves.” “I don’t quite understand why so many people were so relieved that he left. He didn’t get the respect he deserved in France,” he said of the Argentine, who will finally play for Inter Miami in MLS.
He also dealt with other issues such as racism in soccer, calling for insulted players to start “leaving the field when incidents occur.” “Complaints are not enough. With Vinícius, it was great to see how the Brazilian federation came out to defend him.”
Lastly, he commented on the death of Silvio Berlusconi, responsible for creating the winning Milan of the late 20th century and early 20th century. Mbappé confesses to feeling affection for the Rossonero club since he was little because his nanny was Italian and his family “all Milan fans.” “My condolences to the Berlusconi family, it is a great loss for football. He has been an emblematic president who created a great Milan that made me dream as a child. I hope the fans pay him a worthy tribute”, he concluded.
