Paris Saint-Germain reportedly hoped Mbappe would trigger a contract extension.
French soccer star Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) that he will leave the Ligue 1 champions when his contract ends next year, French sports daily L’Equipe and international media organizations have reported.
According to reports on Monday, Mbappe left the PSG hierarchy baffled by his decision not to take up the option of a 12-month contract extension, which he put forward in a formal letter, following Lionel Messi who recently announced his departure from PSG to Major announced League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami in the United States.
PSG now appear to be contemplating whether to sell the 24-year-old striker – who scored a hat-trick in France’s defeat by Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final – or allow him to leave the club for nothing, according to media reports his current contract ends in June 2024.
According to reports from France, PSG were hoping for a contract extension with Mbappé.
Mbappe found himself in a similar situation last year when he was linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid only to then sign a contract extension with PSG.
Real Madrid could now increase their interest in Mbappe as they look to strengthen the forward line after the veteran Karim Benzema’s move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
There is also uncertainty about the future of another PSG star: Brazil’s Neymar.
But Mbappe’s apparent departure would be the biggest loss for PSG as he is a national icon in France and widely regarded as one of the few players capable of replacing Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as football’s biggest star.
Mbappe was hoping to help PSG win their maiden Champions League title, but the team suffered another disappointment in European football’s premier competition, which Manchester City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the final on Saturday.
Mbappe has won five French league titles with PSG and was world champion with France in 2018.