PSG tell Real Madrid: We’re never going to sell Mbappe and he’ll never leave for free

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 7 Jun 2021 01:34 BST
• 3 min read

Kylian Mbappe will stay with Paris Saint-Germain, according to president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who says there is no chance of the player departing on a free transfer.

Mbappe’s deal with PSG is up in June 2021, leading to rumours that he could depart on a free transfer to Real Madrid next summer or to the Bernabeu side for a substantial fee in the coming transfer window.

Al-Khelaifi, however, has been bullish over the future of the World Cup winner.

“I’ll be clear, Kylian is going to stay with PSG. We’re never going to sell him and he’ll never leave for free,” Al-Khelaifi told L’Equipe regarding Mbappe.

“I never give details to the media about ongoing negotiations. All I can say it that it’s progressing well. I hope we’ll find common ground.

“It’s Paris, it’s his country. He has a mission, not just to be a football player, but to promote Ligue 1, his country and his capital.

“He is a fantastic boy, as a person and as an athlete. He’ll win the Ballon d’Or in years to come, I’m 100% sure.

“He has everything he needs to extend here. Where can he go? Which club in terms of ambition and project can compete with PSG today?”

Mbappe has been with PSG since 2017 and has scored 132 goals in 171 appearances for the club. He is coming off a personal best season in which he netted 42 goals and gained 11 assists in all competitions.

Real Madrid’s chances of signing Mbappe

While there is interest from Real Madrid, any deal will be difficult to conclude because of the Spanish side’s financial difficulties.

Madrid are deep in debt and are being forced to cut their wage bill as a consequence. As such, any deal to sign Mbappe would likely hinge on him being happy to accept a significantly smaller wage to switch to the club he admired as a boy.