In an exclusive interview with RMC Sport, Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he wanted to leave Paris Saint-Germain in July so that the club could find a quality replacement.
Mbappe’s future was constantly speculated during the recent transfer window, with Real Madrid making regular efforts to prise him away from Les Parisiens.
It was widely suggested that Mbappe could leave Les Parisiens, but the French outfit were firm on their stance that he was not leaving regardless of the price.
Los Blancos came up with a reported club-record bid of €220 million on deadline day, but even that could not convince Les Parisiens into cashing in.
Mbappe has now revealed that he had told PSG about his plans to leave in July so they could benefit financially and land a replacement.
There has been talk about a rift between him and sporting director Leonardo, but the attacker clarified that there is no truth to the ongoing speculation.
While his desire to join Los Blancos is well known, Mbappe insisted that he has always been happy at Les Parisiens and respected their summer transfer stance.
He said: “I told them early enough for the club to be able to react. My hope was that we could both benefit and find a good deal.”
“I didn’t like the belief that things would be done in the final week of August. I had told the club at the end of July that I wanted to go.
“People said I turned down six or seven extension offers, that I don’t want to talk to Leonardo anymore, that’s absolutely not true.
“I asked to leave, because from the moment I did not want to extend, I wanted the club to have a transfer fee to be able to sign a quality replacement.
“It is a club which has given me a lot, I have always been happy, the four years that I spent here, and I still am. I announced it early enough that the club can react.
“I wanted everyone to come out of this stronger, that we leave hand in hand, to make a good deal, and I respected that. I said, ‘if you don’t don’t want me to leave, I will stay’.”
Our view:
The summer speculation has not significantly impacted Mbappe’s performances. He has bagged four goals and five assists from 11 appearances.
The Frenchman currently has nine months remaining on his contract. He can sign a pre-contract with an overseas club at the turn of the year.
Madrid are likely to present him with a contract offer when the transfer window reopens, but Les Parisiens appear optimistic about keeping him.
Leonardo said last month that nobody at the club sees the future without Mbappe, and he does not see him leaving next summer.
The entire RMC interview will be published tomorrow, and it could give an insight into whether the forward has any plans to renew his deal.
He has given no indication thus far that he could continue with the club. It appears that he will leave for free at the end of the campaign.
Les Parisiens turned down a near world-record fee for Mbappe this summer. A mid-season departure seems unlikely even if his stand-off continues.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com.
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