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Mbappe maneuver puts Madrid on alert

Superstar declines PSG deal extension to raise possibility of summer transfer

China Daily | Updated: 2023-06-14 00:00
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MANCHESTER, England — Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain he will not take up the option of a 12-month extension on his contract, which expires at the end of next season.

The France superstar confirmed his decision in a letter to PSG, a person with knowledge of the correspondence told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.

The person also said PSG would not allow Mbappe to leave as a free agent, raising the possibility of an immediate bidding war by other clubs and potential transfer this summer.

The French club, which is owned by Qatar Sports Investments, has already seen Lionel Messi leave for nothing in return, with the Argentine great making a stunning move to the David Beckham-owned Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami.

There is also uncertainty about the future of another PSG star — Brazil international Neymar.

But the potential departure of the 24-year-old Mbappe would be the greatest loss to PSG, given that he is a national icon and widely considered one of the few players capable of taking over from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer's biggest star.

Mbappe had until July 31 to trigger a one-year extension to his contract. He has been at the club since 2017 after signing from Monaco in a transfer worth a reported $190 million.

In 2021, PSG turned down a bid of $190 million from Real Madrid for the World Cup-winning forward, who went on to sign his current contract in Paris.

Mbappe hoped to help PSG win its first Champions League title, but the team suffered another disappointment in European soccer's top competition, which Manchester City went on to win by beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the final on Saturday.

The young striker is likely to be linked with a move to Madrid, particularly after Karim Benzema left the Spanish giant for Saudi Arabian team Al-Ittihad.

Madrid has already agreed to a deal for 19-year-old England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is set to leave Borussia Dortmund.

The potential acquisition of Mbappe would be a major statement of intent after Madrid relinquished its Spanish league and Champions League titles this year.

PSG was planning a change of strategy after moves for the biggest stars failed to bring success in Europe. The new focus would be on young, French talent. Mbappe was expected to be at the heart of that shift and it had been hoped he would sign a longer-term contract.

Mbappe has won five French league titles with PSG and was a World Cup winner with France in 2018.

The deal Mbappe signed last summer was broken down as a two-year contract, with the option of a further year. The extra year is a player option — meaning it was up to Mbappe whether he wanted to trigger it or not.

Sky Sports reported that Mbappe could yet stay at PSG and that the club is in discussions to offer the superstar a new contract — just as it did last summer when PSG convinced him to stay.

However, PSG is reportedly upset with Mbappe's latest maneuver, particularly as the letter was provided to media before the club.

English clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle could potentially afford Mbappe's astronomical wages. If Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani's attempted takeover at Old Trafford goes through, then speculation linking United with Mbappe will surely intensify.

Mbappe has also been linked with Liverpool in the past.

However, Mbappe's heart is reportedly set on a move to Madrid and now it seems a potential move to the Bernabeu will become the big transfer saga of the summer.

"PSG are very frustrated. The last thing they wanted was to have this whole soap opera start again — and it has started early, just two days after the Champions League final," said Sky Sports News' chief reporter, Kaveh Solhekol.

"I want to clarify because it is a complicated point. There was no need for him to send this letter at all. The deadline was July 31 — seven weeks away. If he had not sent a letter or said anything, it was an automatic nonrenewal. So what is really strange as far as PSG are concerned is why he has even written this letter. All he needed to do was wait."

Agencies Via Xinhua

Kylian Mbappe, pictured at Formula 1's Spanish Grand Prix on June 4, has opted not to trigger his PSG contract extension. AP

 

 

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