Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi has made it clear that he wants to keep hold of his star forward Kylian Mbappe, despite reported interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Mbappe’s uncertain future at the club stems from his current contract, which is set to expire in June.
As Mbappe enters the final six months of his deal, he is now free to negotiate pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs for a possible free transfer in the upcoming summer.
Real Madrid has consistently been at the forefront of the race to secure Mbappe’s signature, having made multiple attempts to acquire the Frenchman in previous transfer windows.
In the summer of 2021, Real Madrid reportedly failed with a €200m offer. Subsequently, they seemed on course to sign Mbappe on a free transfer in 2022, but the forward surprisingly chose to sign a contract extension with PSG.
Last summer, Al-Hilal even made a world-record €300m bid for Mbappe, which was ultimately rejected.
While Mbappe is yet to decide on his next career move, rumors continue to circulate regarding his future.
Recent reports suggested that Real Madrid had reached an agreement to sign the PSG star, but those claims have been refuted by Mbappe’s entourage.
Liverpool has also emerged as a potential destination, with Mbappe reportedly open to a lucrative move to Anfield.
Despite the strong interest in Mbappe, PSG president Al Khelaifi firmly believes that the Frenchman is best suited to remain at his current club.
In a podcast interview with Parisian news outlet RMC Sport, Al Khelaifi expressed his desire for Mbappe to stay, emphasizing that Paris is the ideal club for him.
Al Khelaifi highlighted the exceptional resources available to Mbappe at PSG, including the world-class training center and the guidance of coach Luis Enrique.
He also emphasized PSG’s consistent presence in the Champions League, with the team regularly reaching the knockout stages and often progressing to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, or even the final.
Al Khelaifi views PSG as one of the elite clubs and believes that Mbappe’s development and success will be best served by staying in Paris.
Mbappe’s impact at PSG cannot be understated. He is the club’s all-time leading scorer, with an impressive record of 237 goals in 284 appearances.
This season alone, Mbappe has already netted 25 goals in 24 games. Additionally, he has contributed to PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1, winning five league titles during his six-and-a-half-year tenure. However, the elusive Champions League trophy still eludes him.