In just a few weeks, the Qatari owners of PSG have seen the departure of the best footballer of the 21st century and have also seen that their most valuable and future player wants to leave them. Without Leo Messi and – probably – without Kylian Mbappé, the Parisian club will lose a lot of luster and may be plunged into a devastating crisis, perhaps definitive, of the ambitious project started 12 years ago by the rich gas emirate of the Persian Gulf, more for geopolitical reasons how sporty
Everything indicates that Mbappé, 24 years old and already captain of the French national team, is preparing a divorce. There are too many seasons in Paris without winning either the Champions League or the Ballon d’Or, the ultimate goals for an athlete of his stature. In a letter that was made public on Monday night, the number 7 of PSG anticipated that he does not plan to activate the clause in the contract that would allow him, in the summer of 2024, to extend his presence in Paris for another year.
The announcement was met with “deep anger” by the management of PSG and those who pilot it from Doha – including the emir in person -, as revealed by L’Équipe. They see it, in fact, as an expression of ingratitude from a player who a year ago negotiated an astronomical remuneration to stay and reject a sweet offer from Real Madrid, the club that has tempted him the most since he was a child, and he was about to join the merengues. The money, the proximity of the World Cup in Qatar and the pressure of the President of the Republic himself, Emmanuel Macron, influenced the decision to stay in the city of the Seine.
According to the French media, PSG, as a reaction to the player’s attitude, would prefer to sell him already this summer and get at least a handful of millions of euros. If he leaves in 2024, the club will receive nothing. At the very least, then, the offended party wants to get a dividend from the divorce, an injection of cash to try to rebuild a disfigured template.
During yesterday’s day, information was circulated, later denied by the interested party himself, that Mbappé already wanted to sign for Real Madrid this summer. “Lies – the French star tweeted -. But, at the same time, the bigger, the more it circulates. I have already said that I want to continue next season at PSG, where I am very happy”. The striker obviously wants to keep fit because he has to look after his public image in France. An abrupt exit would damage it. Mbappé clarified, however, that last year he already informed PSG that he would not activate the extension in 2024, so they were warned and cannot take it too badly.
PSG, meanwhile, continues to be an incessant parade of coaches. Sacked Christophe Galtier will leave the club despite still having a year left on his contract. Like his predecessors, he will continue to collect his due. In his case, 6 million euros.
