Mbappe refuses to leave PSG this summer
PSG tried to save the situation when they proposed a new contract with a clause allowing Mbappe to leave in the summer of 2024. However, the 2018 World Cup winner refused. He also ignored the offer of a one-year contract and a record salary of $775 million from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal.
According to Le Parisien, Mbappe has just met with president Nasser Al Khelaifi this week. Here, the French striker reiterated his stance of not renewing the contract and completing the remaining year of the current contract. In response, Al Khelaifi warned of possible consequences if Mbappe continued to refuse to move to another club.
Sky Sports say Mbappe refused to sign a new contract because he was frustrated with PSG's transfer policy. When extended in the summer of 2022, he was promised by the management to bring in Robert Lewandowski and Bernardo Silva. However, the Polish striker joined Barca, and Silva remained at Man City to experience a historic treble season.
PSG explained that strengthening the force with expensive rookies while maintaining Mbappe's huge contract is not an easy thing. According to the contract signed in the summer of 2022, Mbappe is receiving a monthly salary of 5 million USD - double the old contract, not to mention bonuses and loyalty fees.
If he does not leave Paris this summer, Mbappe will have to practice vegetarian and not play officially for the whole 2023-2024 season. The 24-year-old striker is currently isolated from the PSG first team and has to train separately with players who are no longer part of the club's plans, including Georginio Wijnaldum, Julian Draxler, Leandro Paredes, Colin Dagba, Edouard Michut and Abdou Diallo.
In particular, Diallo seems to have found a common voice with the leadership and will soon return to practice with the PSG first team. The 27-year-old defender himself posted a photo of a training session with players who are no longer part of the club's plans on social networks. In the photo, Mbappe smiles widely, embracing his teammates despite the uncertain future.
It is almost certain that Mbappe will almost certainly not be registered to play in the opening match of the Ligue 1 season 2023-2024 against Lorient on August 12. The Paris capital club is ready to replace Mbappe when reaching an agreement to recruit Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos and winger Ousmane Dembele from Barca.
In addition to Mbappe, PSG also have to deal with Neymar's future in the final three weeks of the transfer window. According to Sky Sports, the owner of Parc des Princes will consider a price of between $ 65 and $ 100 million - depending on the club asking to buy - for the Brazilian striker. This valuation is far short of the record $ 263 million that PSG spent to break the contract between Neymar and Barca in the summer of 2017.
Neymar has a three-year contract left and is not seen as a key element of new head coach Luis Enrique, as he wants to build a younger, more aspirational team. The 31-year-old striker wants to return to Barca, but the deal is unlikely because of the difficult financial situation of the La Liga representative. Chelsea or Saudi Pro League's Al Hilal are other potential destinations for Neymar.
