Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) president Nasser Al Khelaifi has expressed his desire for Kylian Mbappé to remain at the Parc des Princes, despite ongoing speculation linking him with moves to Liverpool and Real Madrid. The 25-year-old French forward has less than six months left on his current contract with PSG.
A report in Foot Mercato recently suggested that he had agreed in principle to join Real Madrid, who had previously made a substantial offer for him, while Le Parisien reported that Liverpool will be in the conversation. However, Al Khelaifi has emphasized that Mbappé is a crucial part of PSG’s project to compete for the coveted Champions League title.
In an interview with RMC Sport, Al Khelaifi stated: “I want Kylian Mbappe to stay at PSG. He’s the best player in the world, and PSG is the best club for him. He’s key to our project.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Mbappé’s contract situation, Al Khelaifi remains relaxed and confident. He confirmed having a “gentleman’s agreement” with Mbappé but refrained from discussing specific financial details. Their relationship is described as strong and built on ‘trust’. Al Khelaifi said that the agreement between them will remain secret to protect privacy.
Mbappé himself says he has not yet made a decision about his future, despite the intense speculation surrounding him. He expressed his motivation for the current season and emphasized the importance of pursuing titles. “As I said, we’ve got titles to go after and we’ve already won one, so that’s already done,” he outlined, via Sports Illustrated, earlier in the week. “After that, no, I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
Mbappé also acknowledged the agreement he made with Al Khelaifi during the summer. It was suggested by Caught Offside that he is set to forego up to $87m (£69m/€80m) in loyalty bonuses in order to make up for the lack of a transfer fee if Mbappé leaves as a free agent.
As for Liverpool, manager Jürgen Klopp previously dismissed the possibility of signing Mbappé due to financial constraints. Klopp stated that the financial conditions required for such a move do not align with Liverpool’s current situation.
While Mbappé’s future remains uncertain, PSG is determined to retain its star player. Al Khelaifi’s strong stance indicates the club’s commitment to building a successful team and achieving its goals, with Mbappé playing a pivotal role. But the situation, given Mbappé’s contract is running down, is not in his or PSG’s hands.
