Kylian Mbappe: Paris Saint Germain will not let 'best forward in world' leave for free- president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

 

Kylian Mbappe recently sent letter to PSG saying he would not extend contract, with deal due to expire next summer; club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi says forward "needs to sign a new deal" as club will not risk losing "best player in the world" for free

Mbappe sent a letter to PSG last month stating he had no intention of extending his contract, which expires in 2024, meaning he could leave for free next summer - a situation Al-Khelaifi is desperate to avoid.

The France striker later clarified he had not asked the club to allow him to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, who have tried and failed to land the World Cup-winner in the past.

PSG face the dilemma of allowing Mbappe to run down the final 12 months of his contract and being unable to recoup any of the €180m (£153.8m) they spent to sign him from Monaco in 2017.

"My position is very clear. I don't want to repeat it every time: if Kylian wants to stay, we want him to stay. But he needs to sign a new contract," Al-Khelaifi told reporters after unveiling Luis Enrique as the club’s new manager

"We don't want to lose the best player in the world for free. We can't do that. This is a French club.

"He said he would never leave for free. If he changes his mind today, it's not my fault. We don't want to lose the best player in the world for free, that's very clear."

Mbappe has finished as Ligue 1's top scorer in the last five seasons and PSG will be eager to keep him having already lost Lionel Messi on a free transfer.

Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, opted not to renew his contract for a move to Inter Miami.

Mbappe also said French President Emmanuel Macron had no influence on his career choices after the leader said he would push for the forward to stay in the country's capital.

"The PSG president has been very clear, he said the club wants Kylian Mbappe to stay but he has to sign a new contract. If he doesn't, they will be forced to sell him.

"Mbappe's contract runs out next summer and there is the option to extend by another year, which the player has turned down.

"PSG are saying they cannot afford to lose the best player in the world for nothing next summer. They know he wants to go to Real Madrid - he's looking to run down his contract and leave for Madrid on a free transfer, meaning PSG would get nothing.

"Mbappe himself would get a signing bonus, even bigger wages, and probably a loyalty bonus from PSG. As far as Al-Khelaifi is concerned, that cannot happen. We've got a battle of wills.

"Are this just a negotiating tactic from Mbappe and his camp, and he will stay?

"Or is Real Madrid being discreetly clever by saying they aren't going to make any more signings in this window, and come in for Mbappe at the end of the summer?"