Kylian Mbappe’s decision to be reinstated in the PSG squad is a ploy to put pressure on Real Madrid, according to media in France.
Mbappe is set to be named in the PSG team to face Toulouse on Saturday, ending a period of exile that has lasted a month from the first-team squad.
After scoring in a friendly against Le Havre after coming off the bench, the France star had been on the fringes of the squad, training with players undesirable at PSG due to his refusal to take out an option of a one-year extension at the club.
He did not tour Japan and South Korea with Luis Enrique’s side, while he was also notably absent from their 0-0 Ligue 1 draw with Lorient last weekend – a match in which the Parisians managed over 1000 passes but few clear chances.
After weeks of warring, PSG and Mbappe have called something of a truce, with the 24-year-old welcomed back into the fold.
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According to French source Sport Zone (via Le10Sport), his return to the team is a “way for the France star to put pressure on Real Madrid, who could pay dearly for him”.
On top of this, it is explained: “PSG now have more leeway in the event of a Real Madrid offensive. As part of an aborted departure this summer, Mbappe agreed on a win-win formula with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi: an extension with an advantageous departure clause or the waiver of certain loyalty bonuses in the context of a transfer in 2024. For PSG as for Mbappe, it’s a win-win situation.”
Real Madrid should not fret too much, despite these reports. Both of the Spanish sources are Barcelona papers and rare give Los Blancos a positive spin while Sport Zone is a new media outlet in France whose reliability is untested.
As things stand, the likeliest scenario for Mbappe is to join Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024, but this should not be taken for granted.
