PARIS – As the transfer stalemate between Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain continues, it is uncertain whether the star striker will even be in the team when PSG kicks off their league season at home against Lorient on Saturday.
And now Neymar’s future at the club appears to be in jeopardy.
L’Equipe, France’s main sports daily, reported on Monday evening that Neymar has informed the club that he wishes to leave this summer, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the defending French league winner.
When approached by The Associated Press, PSG stated that they would not comment on Neymar’s condition.
The 31-year-old Neymar, who moved from Barcelona for a world record sum of €222 million ($244 million) in 2017, is under contract until 2025.
Mbappe, who joined PSG in 2017, wants to play this season and then depart on a free transfer when his contract expires, when he might demand a large signing-on fee and a better salary. Real Madrid has been highly connected with him.
Mbappe notified the club in June that he will not be renewing his contract until 2025. PSG responded by stating that he will be sold this summer in order to prevent him from leaving for free at the conclusion of the season, and he was left out of a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea. Since then, Mbappe has been training on his own or with peripheral players, and it is doubtful that he will be included in the team against Lorient unless an agreement is struck.
PSG appear to be in risk of losing their two remaining superstars after already losing seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
Messi’s transfer to Inter Miami occurred after the Argentine World Cup winner declined a one-year contract extension from PSG.
But, after years of pandering to its top players, most notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar, PSG is shown a determined refusal to be pushed around.
Mbappe, who was left out of the preseason tour, posted a photo of himself online last week after working with other periphery players. As supporters waited outside the club’s training base on the outskirts of Paris, he paused to sign autographs.
PSG has received a world record $332 million bid for Mbappe from Saudi club Al-Hilal, but the 24-year-old France international is set on staying in Europe.
Madrid has previously failed in its attempts to get Mbappe, but the 14-time European Cup winner is in a far stronger position this time around, and Mbappe is the ideal replacement for Karim Benzema.
He would be a legacy signing and is young enough to play for many years there, similar to Benzema, who departed Madrid for Saudi club Al-Ittihad after 14 trophy-laden seasons and 354 goals.
Mbappe is PSG’s all-time leading scorer with 212 goals, but he has never won the Champions League and aspires to be a Ballon d’Or winner like Benzema.
Source: AP