Highlights:
- Kylian Mbappe says that staying at Paris Saint-Germain is his only option right now and that he wants to stay with the team.
- Due to Mbappe’s choice to not sign a contract extension beyond 2024, there is now talk that he might leave PSG this summer.
- The France captain asserts that he’s committed to carrying out his duties as captain and denies interfering with the national team’s preparations.
On Thursday, Kylian Mbappe stated that staying at Paris Saint-Germain was his “only option for now” after informing the team he would not be extending his contract past 2024. At a press conference before Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar in Portugal, Mbappe said, “I’ve already addressed this question, I said that my goal was to continue at the club, to stay at PSG, it’s my only option for now.”
Mbappe informed the club in a letter earlier this week that he would not exercise his option to stay with the French champions through 2025.
Mbappe said on Friday, “I didn’t think a letter could kill or offend someone.”
According to him, extending his contract with PSG beyond the next year had never been a topic of discussion. That immediately sparked speculation that the 24-year-old forward, one of football’s most sought-after players, may leave Parc des Princes this summer along with Lionel Messi.
Mbappe revealed he was unsurprised by claims PSG would try to make money off of him by selling him now rather than letting him leave freely at the end of next season. “No, there’s not much that shocks me,” he replied.
By submitting the letter four days before the match against Gibraltar, the France captain also denied interfering with the national team’s preparations.
“I accept everything, people can talk, criticise, I understand,” he stated. “People don’t have all the ins and outs. I know why I do what I do and I say what I say. There’s no problem with that.”
He continued, “I have a responsibility as captain. A few noises won’t make me run away from this responsibility. It’s not my temperament to run away.”
Mbappe also addressed the president’s Wednesday statement that he would “try to push” for the player to remain in France. We are on the same page because he wants me to stay in Paris and I want to stay, said Mbappe.
World Cup runners-up France host Greece on Monday in Group B of the Euro 2024 qualification tournament after playing Gibraltar in Faro. Prior to their March Euro qualifying campaign, which included victories over the Netherlands and Ireland, Mbappe was appointed as France’s new captain. France can almost certainly secure qualifying by winning back-to-back games since the Dutch are now focused on the Nations League finals.
Read | 40 Most Interesting Football Facts Which Will Leave You Jaw Dropped