Mbappe speaks out on his future after blistering Barcelona hat-trick

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:44 CDT
• 2 min read

Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick for Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona on Wednesday, has spoken out about his future amid links to Real Madrid.

The 22-year-old Mbappe was the man of the match as PSG overwhelmed Barcelona 4-1 at Camp Nou in the Champions League.

His long-term future in Paris, though, is not secure. With his contract up in 2022 and little sign of a new deal on the horizon, speculation continues to mount that Real Madrid are ready to make a summer swoop. PSG are likely to favour a sale than risk losing him for nothing a year later.

Mbappe, meanwhile, has repeatedly refused to offer an assurance that he will be with PSG when the 2021/22 season begins.

That trend continued on Tuesday after one of the most blistering displays of his career to date.

“It would be stupid to decide my future on a single match,” Mbappe told RMC. “The truth is that it is about reflecting for the long term. I have always said that I am happy here. This sort of match makes me even happier. … The PSG shirt is one that I hold dear to my heart.”

While head coach Mauricio Pochettino has previously urged the attacker to sign on with PSG, former team-mate Jese Rodriguez has claimed that the World Cup winner wants to move to Real Madrid in order to follow the footsteps of idol Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Kylian Mbappe would love to go to Real Madrid,” the forward explained to El Partidazo de COPE.

The other club thought to have a serious interest in the PSG man are Premier League champions Liverpool.

Mbappe, meanwhile, continues to assure fans that he is focused on PSG for the moment and is eager to lead them to Champions League success, so it is the second leg against Barcelona rather than a potential move to Real Madrid that is occupying his thoughts presently.