Paris Saint-Germain’s preseason tour of Japan has kicked off without star striker Kylian Mbappé, whose future at the club remains uncertain due to an ongoing contract dispute. Mbappé has already informed the club that he will not activate a 12-month extension on his contract, although he intends to play for the French champions in the upcoming season.
PSG decided to exclude Mbappé from their 29-man squad for the Japan tour, where they will face Saudi team Al Nassr, Japanese team Cerezo Osaka, and Champions League runner-up Inter Milan. Despite his absence, Mbappé briefly interacted with PSG fans, posing for photos and signing autographs at the club’s training complex in the Paris suburb of Poissy. However, he refrained from commenting on his contract situation.
The club is determined not to let Mbappé leave for free at the end of next season and has stated that the 2022 World Cup top scorer will either sign a new contract or be sold. The 24-year-old forward sent a letter to PSG outlining his plans last month, triggering intense speculation and renewed links to Real Madrid, who offered €180 million for his services in 2021. However, Madrid missed out on the talented striker when Mbappé signed an extension with PSG until 2024, with an option for 2025 that must be exercised before July 31.
Following the departure of Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami after not activating his contract option, PSG is keen to avoid a similar scenario with Mbappé. They do not want him leaving on a free transfer to Madrid or any other club. Mbappé, who has already scored 40 goals for France, hopes to play out the next season with PSG and participate in the Paris Olympics afterward. However, this request would require approval from both the French Football Federation and his club.
With this situation, PSG, often perceived as indulging star players like Neymar, Mbappé, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is finally taking a firm stance with a high-profile player. Club president Nasser al-Khelaifi emphasized that Mbappé, PSG’s all-time leading scorer with 212 goals, will not be allowed to leave for nothing. By allowing his contract to run down, PSG would miss out on a lucrative transfer fee that could potentially exceed the world-record €222 million they paid Barcelona for Neymar six years ago.
Ideally, PSG would prefer Mbappé to sign a one-year extension to protect their investment and force any interested club to purchase him if he insists on leaving in 2024, perhaps after representing France at the Paris Games. The Olympic final is scheduled for August 9 next year, likely taking place at Parc des Princes, PSG’s home stadium.
As the saga surrounding Mbappé’s future continues, PSG remains steadfast in its determination to secure either a contract extension or a significant transfer fee for the talented striker. The club’s refusal to let him leave on a free transfer reflects a shift in their approach to managing star players. Fans and football enthusiasts alike eagerly await a resolution for Mbappé’s future, which will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications in the footballing world.
