Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain he will not take up the option of a one-year extension in his contract when it expires next June, L'Equipe reported, with the France forward adding that the club had been notified of his decision last year.
Mbappe, a World Cup winner in 2018, confirmed his decision in a letter to the club and could even be sold this summer as PSG will seek to avoid losing him for free, according to the local reports.
Kylian Mbappé has informed PSG of his decision: he’ll NOT trigger the option to extend current contract until 2025, it means that deal would expire next June 2024 — as L’Équipé called.
PSG position: NO plan to lose Kylian for free.Sign new deal now or he could be sold. pic.twitter.com/fDpSKOmxsf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 12, 2023
The player would be free to negotiate and sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club from January should he decide to see out the remaining year of his deal at PSG.
In a statement sent to news agency AFP on Tuesday, Mbappe said PSG "were informed on July 15, 2022" of his decision not to extend his contract, adding that "the only aim of the letter was to confirm what had already been spoken about previously."
Kylian Mbappé statement to AFP.
“I have NEVER discussed any contract renewal with PSG”.“The board has been informed since July 15th, 2022 of my decision not to extend beyond 2024 — and the letter sent was only meant to confirm what I already told them”. pic.twitter.com/ggaO5ZPfqm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 13, 2023
On Tuesday, Mbappe dismissed reports saying he wanted to join Real Madrid in the close season transfer window, saying on Twitter: "I've already said that I'm going to continue next season at PSG where I'm very happy."
MENSONGES…❌
En même temps plus c’est gros plus ça passe. J’ai déjà dis que je vais continuer la saison prochaine au PSG où je suis très heureux. https://t.co/QTsoBQvZKU— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 13, 2023
If Mbappe sees out the remainder of his contract, PSG risk losing him for free at the end of the 2023-24 season. According to Swiss research group CIES Football Observatory, Mbappe is worth around $270 million.
The French club, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, have already lost Lionel Messi on a free transfer after the Argentina forward left at the end of his two-year contract to join Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.
Mbappe was widely tipped to join Real Madrid last season but rejected a move to Spain to sign a contract extension with PSG.
The 24-year-old has long been admired by Real, who had a bid reported to be as high as $215 million turned down in 2021.
Real, who have already agreed a deal to sign England midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, could step up their interest in Mbappe following striker Karim Benzema's move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
Imagine if Real Madrid manage to pull off the signings of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé AND Harry Kane in the same transfer window
Galácticos pic.twitter.com/Km86fpLoVT— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 12, 2023
Mbappe, one of the game's finest talents who burst onto the scene as a teenager, has won five Ligue 1 titles with PSG but the Champions League trophy has remained out of reach.
PSG signed Mbappe from AS Monaco in 2017 in a deal reported to be around 180 million euros, making him the world's second-most expensive signing after Neymar, who joined them from Barcelona for 222 million euros.
Mbappe became PSG's all-time top scorer after netting 41 goals in 43 games in all competitions and helped the capital club win a record 11th French title.
He was named France captain after leading them to a second straight World Cup final in December, where he netted a hat-trick against Argentina before losing on penalties.
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad, Additional reporting by Janina Nuno Rios and Aadi Nair, editing by Pritha Sarkar, Peter Rutherford, Christian Radnedge)
