19 January 2023 , 12:27
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Kylian Mbappe responded with a thumbs up after being asked to "come back to Madrid" amid fresh speculation on his future at Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG afforded the striker the opportunity to leave the club last year, but only if that was a move to Liverpool while the French club were demanding a staggering £352million total for any deal. Mbappe, in the aftermath of penning a three-year contract at the Parc des Princes, refused.
The striker has been the subject of prolonged links with a move to Real Madrid and there have been subsequent reports that the striker wants to leave PSG this year after Mbappe’s future was once again thrust into the limelight in October.
Mbappe will not be leaving the Ligue 1 club in the January transfer window while a move in the summer transfer window will also be wrought with complications, due to the striker’s contractual situation giving the club all the negotiating power in his future.
However, his contract will expire in the summer of 2024 – there is an option to extend that through by a further year, but only the player, and not the club, can trigger that extension – and if PSG do not sell this summer, they risk losing their superstar player as a free agent the following year.
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That ensures that questions about Mbappe's future are unlikely to go away. His concerns were unlikely to be eased by his eye-watering contract details being leaked while he was angered that a recent wage payment from the club was late – unlike other stars at the club.
Mbappe gave the thumbs up gesture when asked about Madrid (INTERENET PICTURE)
Mbappe is back with PSG after winning the Golden Boot with France in the World CupHave Your Say! Do you think Mbappe will leave PSG this summer? Tell us what you think here.
Mbappe is currently in Saudi Arabia with his club teammates ahead of a friendly clash against an all-star Saudi-based team comprised of players from Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo – who has just joined the latter – set to play his first game in the Middle East nation.
As a selection of PSG players, including the striker, were lined up at a promotional event to sign memorabilia at a press event, Mbappe was asked if he would "come back to Madrid" to which he smiled and gave a thumbs-up gesture. It was another hint that could spark transfer speculation.
After reports questioning his happiness, Mbappe refused to commit his future to PSG following. "For now, a second World Cup. After that, I don't know," the France international said ahead of the winter tournament. The open-ended statement left more questions than answers, with the striker not addressing the situation since.