During the unveiling of Luis Enrique as Paris Saint-Germain head coach today, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi joined the Spaniard at their newly-renovated state-of-the-art new training ground.
Reporters pressed Al-Khelaifi for updates on the future of Kylian Mbappe, who will not extend his contract beyond next year.
However, Al-Khelaifi does not want to lose the player. The 49-year-old wants him to sign a new deal or leave this summer. His response hinted at the possibility of a potential sale.
Al-Khelaifi said (via RMC Sport): “My position is very clear. I don’t want to repeat it all the time. If Kylian wants to stay, we want him to stay. But he needs to sign a new contract.
“We don’t want to lose the best player in the world on a free. That’s impossible. He had said that he would never leave on a free.
“It’s not my fault that he’s changed his mind now. We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free. That’s very clear.”
Mbappe is holding out for a free transfer next summer instead of triggering the contract clause that would keep him at PSG for an additional year.
He signed a contract in 2022 that initially appeared to be a three-year agreement.
The new deal temporarily halted Real Madrid’s relentless pursuit of the former AS Monaco man.
However, it came out that only Mbappe can activate the third and final year of the deal, leaving the decision in his hands.
PSG have given the 24-year-old until the end of the month to make a definitive choice about his future.
If he insists on leaving for free in 2024, Les Parisiens will try to sell him this summer. Madrid will likely be at the forefront of the race to sign him.
Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have also expressed interest in acquiring his services.
