Kylian Mbappe lashes out at PSG for ‘shortcomings’ and the ‘bad news’ of Lionel Messi’s departure, with the French superstar explaining why he is turning down a new contract as he corners the club
Kylian Mbappé has launched another offensive against his club PSG, citing their ‘shortcomings’ and the departure of Lionel Messi as reasons for his decision not to renew his contract.
The French superstar dropped the smashing news this week that he has no plans to write any new terms after 2024.
The development has sent Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and other top European teams red, with PSG now cornered.
They are desperate not to get rid of him for free next summer, so they can make money now, despite Mbappé’s declaration that he will stay for another season.
The player himself spoke to the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport about the situation.
Kylian Mbappe was photographed back on Tuesday afternoon during training for the French national team
Mbappe has revealed he will not be staying at PSG after the end of his contract in 2024
He said: ‘For a player like me, the goal is to win everything. And we knew that there were shortcomings at PSG that we had to pay for sooner or later.
“I have not said that I want to be sold to Real Madrid or leave, just that I will not activate the option on the extra year.
“There has never been an extension at PSG. Messi gone? Bad news must now be replaced.’
On Tuesday, Mbappé responded online to a message that he wanted to go to Real, replying: ‘LIES. I have already said that I will continue at PSG where I am very happy.
But it appears the 24-year-old is unhappy with the way the club is being run and has complained that Messi, who is going to Inter Miami, is leaving.
He continued: “He is one of the greatest players in the history of football. It’s never good news when someone like Messi leaves.
“I don’t quite understand why so many people were so relieved that he was gone. In France he didn’t get the respect he deserved.’
Despite Mbappé’s statement that he is happy and wants to stay for another year, the situation is clear: he will extend his contract or be sold.
Madrid is the club he dreamed of playing for as a child and remains the most realistic option.
Mbappé believes Messi was undervalued at PSG and regretted his departure
The PSG striker laughed with head coach Didier Deschamps (left) during the session despite the storm swirling around his club future
Mbappé is central to PSG’s promotion with Lionel Messi gone and Neymar likely to leave
The cost of such a move plus Financial FairPlay restrictions mean Chelsea and Manchester United, while both admirers, have declared a move to them as ‘very unlikely’, with Bayern Munich also ruling themselves out.
PSG were eager to reconnect with a disillusioned fan base who say the club no longer has a French identity. Lionel Messi has left and they expected to sell Neymar, but the loss of French talisman Mbappe will be a blow to their ambitions.
His departure would put Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford back in the picture for the French champions.
Mbappé was in good spirits on Tuesday as he trained with France despite the storm raging around his future.
Real Madrid remains the most likely destination for Mbappe when he leaves this summer
But the drama of a transfer window is nothing new to him and Real will be wary of being stung again.
Madrid will not take the first step. They are still stung by missing him twice in the last two years.
But if Mbappé gets a magic number from PSG – the amount they will accept to lose him – then he will take that to Florentino Perez and if the fee is achievable for Real Madrid, bearing in mind that PSG will probably not open stand for if paid in installments they get the player they thought they would have to wait another year for.
If the figure set is €200 million (£171 million), then despite everything Madrid have vowed not to give PSG a single euro for their player, it will be seriously considered.