Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, expressed his position regarding the future of Kylian Mbappe at the club with clear conviction during a recent interview. According to Khelaifi, if Mbappe wishes to continue with PSG into the next season, he “must sign a new contract.”
As one of the world’s best players, the thought of Mbappe leaving without a return is unacceptable to the club, according to Khelaifi. He asserted, “We can’t let the best player in the world today leave for free. It’s impossible.”
Last month, Mbappe confirmed his intention not to extend his contract, which expires next year. However, he also wanted to remain with the team for another season. This puts PSG in a predicament as they may have to consider selling Mbappe during this transfer window or risk losing him for free once his contract ends after the next season.
Since joining PSG in a 180 million euro ($196m) deal from Monaco in August 2017, Mbappe has carved out an impressive niche, becoming a prominent global player.
Mbappe’s Stint at PSG and the Uncertainties Ahead
The talented forward’s performance has been outstanding; his feats include scoring a hat-trick in France’s 2022 World Cup final defeat to Argentina and aiding PSG to clinch a record 11th French title. With 29 goals, he was Ligue 1’s top scorer last season, scoring 41 times in 43 games across all competitions.
Despite the prospect of moving to Real Madrid when his previous contract expired a year ago, Mbappe chose to remain in Paris and agreed on a new contract. This was a two-year deal with the option for a third year that would run until 2025, which Mbappe indicated he would not take up.
In May, the 24-year-old stated his intention to stay at PSG for the upcoming year and honour his existing contract, creating ambiguity about his future. The new PSG coach, Luis Enrique, remained somewhat elusive when asked about the future of Mbappe at the club. However, he mentioned that he is “counting on all the players under contract.” How this situation will unfold in the coming days remains to be seen.
