The 24-year-old France striker signed a new deal a year ago
to stay at PSG, turning down an approach from Real Madrid in the process.
But that contract will expire in 2024 unless he decides
before July 31 this year to agree an extension for a third season, until 2025.
If he does not sign, the French champions therefore risk
losing him for nothing in a year’s time, meaning they could now opt to sell him
in the current transfer window, which is open until September 1.
Mbappe’s decision not to renew, announced in a letter to the
club and first revealed by French sports daily L’Equipe, is a major blow to
PSG.
It comes as they have been planning to make the forward the
focal point of their team after allowing Messi to leave at the end of his own
two-year contract.
According to sources with knowledge of the discussions, PSG
were surprised that the letter was leaked and do not envisage letting Mbappe
leave for nothing.
That means either renegotiating the contract or selling him
in this transfer window.
“PSG play hardball” was the headline on the front page of
L’Equipe on Tuesday.
Mbappe’s entourage said they would make “no comment for the
moment” when contacted by AFP.
Real Madrid on alert?
Having missed out on his signature a year ago, Real would
again be chief among his suitors.
They are in the market for a new striker after reigning
Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema ended his 14-year stay in the Spanish capital, opting
to move to Saudi Arabia.
Mbappe recently stated that he planned to remain at PSG next
season but hinted that he may not extend his deal at the Parc des Princes.
“I said that next year I will play for PSG. I still have a
year left on my contract and I am going to honour my contract,” Mbappe said at
an awards ceremony last month after being named Ligue 1’s player of the year.
Mbappe is currently with the France squad preparing for Euro
2024 qualifying matches against Gibraltar in Portugal this Friday, and at home
to Greece next Monday.
Recently named as the new France captain, Mbappe appeared
smiling and relaxed as he trained with his teammates at their base near Paris
on Monday.
He was still a teenager when he joined PSG on a season-long
loan from Monaco in August 2017, just after helping the principality club win
the Ligue 1 title.
The move turned into a permanent transfer the following year
in a 180 million-euro ($195m) deal.
He helped France to World Cup glory in 2018 and has established
himself as arguably the leading forward on the global stage.
Mbappe also scored a hat-trick in France’s 2022 World Cup
final defeat to Messi’s Argentina before helping PSG win a record 11th French
title.
He was the top scorer in Ligue 1 last season with 29 goals
and netted 41 in 43 games for his club in all competitions.
Yet it was an often frustrating season, as PSG went out of
the Champions League in the last 16 to Bayern Munich and lost at the same stage
in the French Cup.
Their regularly poor performances in the second half of the
campaign persuaded PSG not to offer new terms to Messi, who fell out with the
club after missing training to take an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
Last week Messi announced that he would move to MLS side
Inter Miami.
Sergio Ramos has also been allowed to leave and Neymar’s
future in Paris is in doubt with the club understood to be keen to part ways
with the Brazilian.
Neymar, who is under contract until 2025, has been out
injured since February.
The Qatar-owned club are currently working on bringing in
new signings, with Spanish international Marco Asensio from Real Madrid and
Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte of Portuguese side Sporting both expected to
sign soon.
PSG are also expected to bring in a new coach to replace
Christophe Galtier. AFP