Mbappe reportedly wants out of PSG

Less than six months after Kylian Mbappe extended his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, the French star is reportedly looking for a way out.

The World Cup winner had been close to joining Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer but finally agreed to stay at PSG for two more years with an option for an extra season.

A series of reports published in France on Tuesday by several media including L'Equipe, RMC, and Le Parisien, as well as Marca in Spain, say that Mbappe is frustrated and wants to leave during January's transfer window.

PSG sports adviser Luis Campos, who is close to Mbappe, told Canal+broadcaster that the France forward never told him he planned to move away in January.

"It's information that comes before a match, it's very serious, this is the reason why I'm here, to deny," Campos said.

PSG has dominated the French league since cash-rich Qatari investors took over in 2011 but has failed to replicate that success on the European stage despite spending massive amounts on star players.

Mbappe hit the net from the penalty spot as PSG drew 1-1 with Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Speaking after the game at Parc des Princes, PSG coach Christophe Galtier said the rumors about Mbappe's future did not disrupt his team's preparations for the match.

"I know nothing," Galtier said when asked about the reports. "All I know is that a rumor became a story and then that almost became a declaration.

"I found it very surprising that such a story should come out just before such a big game."

He added: "I didn't see anything unusual in Kylian's preparation for the game, and he played with a lot of rhythm and intensity and gave a response to the rumors.

"We remained focused on the match and I don't think the rumor disrupted our preparations."

Mbappe's goal was his 12th of the season for his club in 13 games but he is reportedly unhappy at his positioning in the PSG team and that the club did not sign a top-class center-forward in the offseason. His relationship with Brazilian superstar Neymar has also reportedly deteriorated.

Earlier this season, Mbappe ducked a question on the project that had been presented to him in late May to convince him to stay, refusing to say if he was happy with how it materialized.

More recently, he suggested that he would rather play alongside another striker — like he does with the France national team — rather than in a pivot role up front.

Galtier said this week that the club tried to recruit another striker with a different profile to allow Mbappe to play in his preferred position, but that did not happen.

After Tuesday's game, Galtier questioned the motivation behind the reports coming out when they did, with PSG — minus the injured Lionel Messi — missing the chance to secure qualification for the Champions League last 16 with two group games to spare following the draw.

"That this rumor should emerge just four or five hours before this game, I am entitled to be surprised," he said. "Who does this rumor help? Who is it useful to? Not us."

PSG will play fierce rival Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, and is next in Champions League action at home to Maccabi Haifa on Oct 25.

A win in that game will secure PSG's place in the knockout phase.

Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 when he was still a teenager. The 23-year-old has often said that playing for Madrid was his childhood dream.

AFP