PSG reject claims of €200m Mbappe deal
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 3 Mar 2022 10:32 GMT
- 3 min read
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo says that if Kylian Mbappe remains at the club beyond the summer, it will not be because of money.
Mbappe has been closely linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, when he is on course to be a free agent as his contract expires on June 30.
However, the Ligue 1 leaders have not given up on retaining the 23-year-old superstar, who has 24 goals and 17 assists for the season in 34 games.
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Indeed, Le Parisien reported earlier this week that PSG had made an offer of €50 million per year plus a €100m loyalty bonus for the forward. Over the course of a two-year deal, this would have been worth €200m to the player. This is an assertion that is strongly rejected by Leonardo.
Speaking to L’Equipe, the Brazilian said: “It’s not true. We’ve not sent him a specific offer. I think the last thing that we put on his contract will be his wages. We want to put him in the best possible conditions so that he becomes the best player possible.
“We’ve hardly ever talked about money because that’s not what it’s about. Kylian has such a large value that I think he’s very quiet about it. It’s secondary. To put in the amount, it will take two minutes at the end.”
PSG holding out Mbappe hope
Instead of money, Mbappe has reportedly four demands that could keep him at PSG, including being placed at the centre of the project on a long-term basis. Leonardo did not deny this suggestion but did suggest the support could have a role to play, highlighting their contribution as Mbappe scored two and set up one against Saint-Etienne last weekend.
“It’s a matter of feelings,” he said. “A French player, when he begins his career, has the goal of playing abroad. It’s not coincidence that the world champion team of 1998, you had a majority of players who played abroad. Same in 2018 – Kylian was the only starter playing in France.
“The feeling that there was one Saturday at the Parc was magnificent. Something is being created, not just for him. Other clubs don’t have ultras like that, and that can play a role.”
As long as there’s nothing signed with Real Madrid
- LeonardoLeonardo, meanwhile, would not be drawn on the chances of Mbappe shunning Real Madrid to sign a new PSG contract.
“We have our chances,” he said. “As long as there’s nothing signed [with Real Madrid], we’ll do everything to keep him.”
Mbappe has now played 205 matches for PSG, scoring 156 goals and creating 78 more.
