Kylian Mbappe declines renewal of PSG contract
Once again, Kylian Mbappé is set to be one of the biggest names available on the transfer market. The French superstar has decided against renewing his contract with Paris Saint-Germain until 2025, meaning he will be a free agent next summer. Thousands of outlets have already announced the news after it was confirmed by French newspaper L’équipe:
Kylian Mbappé has told Paris Saint-Germain that he will not extend his current contract with the club, which ends in June 2024, per @lequipe. pic.twitter.com/WO3bOzm3Kd
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 12, 2023
To say there will be no shortage of interest is a true understatement. Despite only a handful of teams potentially able to pay a significant fee this summer, this news is far from unexpected.
For years, PSG management has tried to build a European contender with Mbappé as the crown jewel. However, it has never materialized. The closest the Parisians got to Champions League glory was losing to Bayern Munich in the final of 2020. Since then, it has been disappointment after disappointment.
Furthermore, there is a real possibility that the PSG project seriously collapses. One major domino already fell after the news of former teammate Lionel Messi leaving to Inter Miami was confirmed. While the club is being very diligent on the transfer market, pretty much none of it will mean anything if Mbappé leaves this summer.
Statistically speaking, the 24-year-old has enjoyed yet another spectacular season after winning Ligue 1 with PSG. He scored an astounding 52 goals and added 13 assists for club and country this season, with his most remarkable performance had to be the World Cup Final against Messi and Argentina.
After winning it in 2018, Mbappé nearly carried France to a second consecutive crown after scoring dragging les Bleus out of a 2-0 hole in the final 15 minutes. Then, in extra time, after Messi scored his second, the French No. 10 made it a hat trick with a penalty kick.
It capped off an amazing campaign where he scored eight times and assisted twice in seven games. That game truly put Mbappé on the world’s stage and solidified him as the next great of the game.
Immediately, the links between him and Real Madrid are again in play. Los Blancos are in serious need of attacking help 2023-2024. They have lost the likes of Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, and Marco Asensio already. A duo of Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. could also dominate the game for the better part of a decade.
It remains unclear what kind of funds the 14-time Champions League winners will have available. After all, they are closing in on the signing of English sensation Jude Bellingham for roughly 100 million euros.
Another team that has a potential outside chance at Mbappé’s signing is Manchester United. Reports indicate that PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has worked closely with the Glazer family to facilitate the club’s sale to Sheikh Jassim. If United is sold to the Qataris, then the working relationship might translate to a deal for the flying Frenchman. It also fits in with the desire of manager Erik ten Hag to add a new attacker to Old Trafford.
For yet another summer, Kylian Mbappé has started moving closer to the exit door from Paris Saint-Germain. However, a move away from the French capital has never looked more likely than it does right now.
