Kylian Mbappe’s contract bombshell: will PSG lose another star player?

Kylian Mbappe informed Paris Saint-Germain on Monday that he would not exercise the option to extend his contract until 2025, increasing his chances of leaving the club this summer, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi. The 24-year-old French striker’s current contract expires at the end of the upcoming season, with an additional year as an option.
If Mbappe does not sign, there is a risk the French champions could lose him for nothing within a year. Therefore, they could opt to sell him this summer rather than miss out on a substantial transfer fee for one of the best players in the world.

Kylian Mbappe’s statement to AFP.

“I have never discussed any contract renewal with PSG”.

“The board have been informed of my decision with effect from July 15, 2022, that I will not be moving beyond 2024 – and the letter sent was only to confirm what I had already told them”. pic.twitter.com/ggaO5ZPfqm

– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 13, 2023

Mbappe’s decision not to renew his contract was informed in a letter to the club and was revealed by French sports daily L’Equipe. The announcement is another blow for PSG, who recently lost Messi to Inter Miami. Embappé was expected to make his decision by July 31, 2023. Notably, it has been just over a year since he rejected Real Madrid’s offer and signed a contract extension to stay at the Parc des Princes. Real Madrid could once again be his primary contender.

There was no immediate response from Mbappe’s entourage when questioned late on Monday. If the striker leaves for free at the end of his current contract in the summer of 2024, it would be a disastrous result for PSG. In addition to the void left in the squad, the club would also miss out on significant transfer revenue that could have been generated. The future of Neymar, PSG’s star striker who is under contract until 2025, also appears uncertain amid an anticipated tumultuous summer in the French capital.

He joined PSG on a season-long loan from Monaco in August 2017, eventually turning into a permanent deal worth 180 million euros ($194 million). As a teenager, he played a key role in France’s World Cup victory in 2018 and since then, he has established himself as arguably the best forward in the world. Mbappe also scored a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final, where France lost to Messi’s Argentina, and helped Paris Saint-Germain secure their 11th French title. However, Mbappe hinted last month that he could leave in 2024.

“I said that I will play at PSG next year. I still have one year left on my contract, so I will respect that,” he commented when asked about his future during an awards ceremony, where he was awarded the Ligue 1 title. The player was named. season for the fourth time in a row.

In Clairefontaine, where the French national team is preparing for their upcoming Euro qualifying matches, Mbappe appeared relaxed on Monday. He was seen smiling and joking with coach Didier Deschamps and fellow forward Antoine Griezmann, actively participating in the afternoon’s training, and signing several autographs for the spectators. Mbappe’s announcement about his intentions for PSG has added to a list of frustrations for the club’s Qatari owners after a challenging season both on and off the pitch despite securing the French title.

After another disappointment in the Champions League, the club is currently looking for a new coach to replace Christophe Gaultier. The season was widely regarded as weak as PSG were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the round of 16 and exited the French Cup at the same stage. Regarding Neymar, the Brazilian’s fitness has been a recurring concern for PSG since his record-breaking transfer from Barcelona in 2017. Although he has scored 118 goals in 173 games for PSG, he has missed over 100 matches due to injuries or suspensions.