PSG boss Al-Khelaifi teases Mbappe transfer: 'Still 24 hours left'
Tom Weber
- Updated: 31 Aug 2023 20:24 BST
- 4 min read
Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi has potentially dropped a transfer hint with his latest Kylian Mbappe comments.
It is hard to believe but the biggest transfer saga of the summer has actually quieted down in recent times. The 24-year-old shocked the world when news broke that he would not trigger his contract extension with PSG, meaning that he would be a free agent next year.
This left the French champions, and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi in particular, seething and they proceeded to banish Mbappe from the squad and transfer listed him. But the Frenchman refused to entertain Al-Hilal's world-record offer and doubled down on his desire to see out his contract.
READ: Real Madrid fear Mbappe to Chelsea after ‘Special’ Instagram message
Following PSG's first Ligue 1 game, the club and the Mbappe camp held positive and constructive talks which saw the golden boy reinstated and dampened rumours of an imminent move to Real Madrid as PSG began making progress towards a potential contract extension.
All the signs pointed towards Mbappe prolonging his stay after all, but Al-Khelaifi's new, cryptic comments may cast doubt on that despite the transfer deadline fast approaching.
What did Al-Khelaifi say?
“Kylian is a PSG player," Al-Khelaifi told RMC at the Champions League group stage draw. "We have very good discussions with him, he is a magnificent player, as a person and as a professional."
"We talked to the rest of his family. There are more than 24 hours left for the transfer window. We go to work, try to do something. If we can, why not. Otherwise, we are ready, we are fine. An extension? I don't want to talk about that."
READ: Kylian Mbappe proving PSG's sporting director after all
The '24 hours' comment is interesting here. Is he stating that PSG are still open to 11th-hour offers, as the context would suggest? Or is he merely referring to the fact that PSG's business is far from done, with the club still trying to further 'Frenchify' their squad with the additions of Bradley Barcola from Lyon and Randal Kolo Muani from Frankfurt?
Only time will tell.
