EXCLUSIVE: PSG 'won't mourn' Mbappe's departure as Real Madrid close in

Jacque Talbot

• 15 Feb 2024 13:20 CST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Paris Saint-Germain are relaxed around the situation involving Kylian Mbappe and they don't see the forward's departure necessarily as a free transfer, FootballTransfers has been told.

The Ligue 1 champions inform us that now they will look to hand fresh deals to some of their younger talent, including Warren Zaire-Emery, as they begin a new era without Mbappe.

The Frenchman dropped a bombshell as news filtered through that the superstar had informed PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi of his decision to leave this summer during a conversation at the Poissy training ground two days ago.

Al Khelaif had already received a letter from Mbappe in May of the previous year, dating back to 2022, indicating his intention to depart. We are told that there is no indication about where Mbappe will be leaving to, but the suspicion is that it will be Real Madrid.

PSG anticipates that Mbappe will honour his commitment not to leave on a free transfer, which means that he will either forgo the signing-on fee from Real Madrid to PSG or leave the loyalty bonuses owed to him. Mbappe's annual cost to PSG is a substantial €200m and the club are happy to diversify this into their side.

When is Mbappe's contract up?

Had Mbappe extended his contract until 2025, PSG would have valued him at around €150m this summer.

In August 2021, PSG rejected a €220m offer for Mbappe from Real Madrid. Additionally, last summer, PSG accepted a €300m offer from Al Hilal for Mbappe, but the player declined the move.

PSG wish to embark on investing heavily into their young crop of players and feel that the future is secure. One of the next ports of call would be to extend the contract of Zaire-Emery, whose contract is up in 2025.

We understand that the news of Mbappe leaving marks a positive shift for PSG, 'with no mourning in Paris', a source close to the situation has told us. The club is finally free from the era of player power and individualism, embracing a focus on youth with the talent already at their disposal. (