Mbappe dropped from PSG’s Japan tour over ‘Real Madrid agreement’

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 21 Jul 2023 22:05 BST
• 3 min read

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PSG have dropped Kylian Mbappe from their pre-season tour of Japan, further casting doubt over the France international’s future at the club.

Mbappe, who has been persistently linked with a transfer to Real Madrid for many months, featured as a substitute in the club’s 2-0 friendly win over Le Havre on Friday, scoring the second goal in stoppage time after coming off the bench.

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But although the 24-year-old superstar made a positive contribution against the Ligue 1 new boys, PSG have decided to sideline him from their upcoming friendlies against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, Cerezo Osaka, Inter Milan and Joenbuk Motors, which is a fixture that will take place in South Korea.

The news was first broken by L'Equipe, but PSG have now officially confirmed that he will not travel to the Far East with the squad.

The French source reports that PSG are now beginning what they have branded “the future without Mbappe”.

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Why have PSG dropped Mbappe?

PSG are unhappy that Mbappe wants to leave the club as a free agent next summer and will not take up the option of a one-year extension on his contract, which he has until 31 July to agree to. This has led to major tension between the player and the board.

According to L’Equipe: “The Parisian club thinks that the 2018 world champion, who will come to the end of the contract in June 2024, already has an agreement with Real Madrid to leave free.”

His absence from the Japan tour is particularly meaningful because of the hardline speech given by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi earlier this week.

“All those who do not travel to Japan are not part of the club's plans,” he is reported to have said, with these comments clearly aimed at Mbappe.

Al-Khelaifi also told the squad: “You must be loyal to this club. I count on you, I will support you like my own family, but it will be necessary for you to do the same and to be loyal.”

L’Equipe reports that PSG have already been contacted by unnamed clubs over Mbappe’s situation, although Real Madrid remain clear favourites to land the hitman.