Kylian Mbappe’s future hangs in the balance this summer transfer window, with the tug of war between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid leaving him in the middle of the two clubs and no certainty about where he will be playing his football in the coming year.
Mbappe’s contract with Paris comes to an end at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, but PSG provided their French star a deadline to accept an extension option built into that deal, for fear of losing him on a free transfer. However, Mbappe has grown increasingly disillusioned with life at the Parc des Princes, and is actively seeking a path away from the club. As a result, PSG have been forced to punish Mbappe in pursuit of forcing his hand into action regarding his contract.
With the 24-year-old refusing to sign on for the extra year, PSG are desperately seeking a buyer for their 150 million euro signing from 2018. Real Madrid are unsurprisingly the leaders to win Mbappe’s signature, with playing for the club being somethign that the Frenchman has always desired.
However, with Mbappe refusing to sign the added year, he has been banished from the PSG first team and been consigned to training with the B-team while the French club tour Asia as part of their preseason preparations. As per reports by the Guardian, he will be kept away from the main team under Luis Enrique, and only allowed to prepare with the ‘loft’ group.
Mbappe is part of a unit which also possesses out-of-favour players such as Julian Draxler and Leandro Paredes, both of whom spent the previous season out on loan. As per Sky Sports, Mbappe reportedly told players who were part of this ‘bomb squad’ that they are capable of beating the first team if pitted against them, indicating the level of quality PSG have ostracized from their main setup.
It is unclear what bearing the contract dispute will have once the season begins, with Mbappe the best player in the PSG squad. If a deal with Madrid isn’t completed, PSG would still be in a position to challenge for the Champions League this season, and might be forced to play Mbappe even if he will proceed to sign with Madrid on a free next summer.
The Parisiens agreed to a record 259 million euro deal with Al Hilal in July, but Mbappe preferred to remain in Europe, still hunting for a deal with Madrid. However, the extreme prices Nasser Al Khelaifi and the PSG board are demanding for Mbappe is seen by some as far too high for a player in the last year of his deal, essentially being kept hostage by the same club that wants to see him sold.
It is difficult to see Madrid agreeing to spend upwards of 200 million euros on a player they could sign for free next summer, especially having spent 105 million on Jude Bellingham earlier this window already. Mbappe remains the hottest property in world football, but for the time being, he has been exiled from his own club, and his future remains as murky as ever.
