(Paris) As the stalemate between Kylian Mbappé and Paris Saint-Germain continues, it remains unclear whether the star striker will even be in the lineup when the French club begin their season at home to Lorient on Saturday.
And now Neymar’s future also looks uncertain.
The main French sports daily L’Équipe reported on Monday evening that Neymar had told PSG that he wanted to leave this summer, increasing the uproar around the defending French champion.
When contacted by The Associated Press, PSG said the club would not comment on Neymar’s situation.
The 31-year-old Neymar joined PSG in 2017, following a record transfer fee of 222 million euros. The Brazilian is under contract until 2025.
Mbappé, who also joined the Paris outfit in 2017, wants to play for PSG this season but then go on a free transfer when his contract runs out rather than asking for exorbitant transfer fees and a higher salary. He has been heavily linked with Real Madrid in transfer talks.
Mbappé informed PSG in June that he would not agree to the additional year of his contract until 2025. The French club responded by insisting he would be sold this summer to prevent him from leaving for free at the end of the season. He was notably excluded from a pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea.
Since then, Mbappé has trained alone or with fringe players and it seems unlikely that he will be in the line-up against Lorient unless a deal is agreed.
Having already lost seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, PSG now look in danger of losing their two remaining stars as well.
Messi’s move to Inter Miami CF came after the Argentine decided against signing the one-year contract extension that PSG had offered him.
But after years of complacency towards their star players, notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar, PSG now show a firm intention not to be pushed around.
PSG have received a record bid of US$332 million from Saudi outfit Al-Hilal for Mbappé, but the 24-year-old Frenchman appears determined to stay in Europe. He reportedly refused to meet representatives of the Saudi club when they were in Paris last month.
Real Madrid have failed twice with offers to agree Mbappé, but the multiple European Cup winner is in a much better position this time. Mbappé is the ideal replacement for Karim Benzema.
Mbappé is young enough to play for Real Madrid for many years like Benzema, who joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad after 14 trophy-laden seasons and 354 goals with the Spanish side.
Mbappé is PSG’s all-time top scorer with 212 goals, but he has never won the Champions League. He also aims to become a Ballon d’Or winner like Benzema.
