The French striker was not invited to participate in the club’s tour of Japan on Friday, and the “player is for sale now”, according to information from Radio France.
The showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé took an unexpected turn on Friday July 21. The capital club has decided to do without the services of its striker for its tour of Japan, which begins on July 24. At the same time, the sports management of Radio France learned from a source close to the club, on Friday July 21, that the 24-year-old player was “for sale now“. Franceinfo: sport answers the questions that arise around this new episode of the soap opera between the Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe.
Why does Nasser Al-Khelaïfi start a showdown with Kylian Mbappé?
“PSG has its feet and hands tied”, explained sports economist Mickael Terrien to us, after the ultimatum issued by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi at a press conference at the beginning of the month. The Parisian president had revealed to wait for the decision of the native of Bondy in “maximum two weeks”i.e. before July 31.
As revealed by the sports management of Radio France, the contractual situation of the Frenchman has not changed since his return to training on Monday July 17. The club will therefore discuss with potential buyers from August 1, once its option to extend the contract has expired, still according to information from Radio France.
Why is Kylian Mbappé not on the list of players leaving for Japan?
By setting a deadline for the captain of the France team, the Parisian president has already wanted to prove “that the institution is strong, possibly pushing for a departure by giving the impression that PSG is not completely losing”, Mickael Terrien explained to us.
In the same vein, the non-selection of Kylian Mbappé for the tour in Japan allows the club to do a double blow: on the one hand, to put pressure on the player, and on the other hand, to show that PSG keeps the cards in hand. “No one is above the club”recalled Nasser Al-Khelaïfi during a training session, Tuesday July 18, in remarks relayed by France Bleu Paris. The star will therefore remain in Paris with the undesirables (Paredes, Draxler), which PSG wants to get rid of.
Why does PSG absolutely want to sell Kylian Mbappé this summer?
The fear of seeing one of the best players in the world leave for free next year is enough to justify the pressure put on by Paris Saint-Germain. For Christophe Lepetit, sports economist, the best option for the capital club would be “probably Mbappé will exercise his option for another year (with a current contract then until June 30, 2025) and transfer it next summer. Replacing him will take time and surely substantial resources, which a sale of the player next summer would be likely to offer.”
For now, the trend has turned to an immediate sale of Kylian Mbappé. The sooner his transfer will be decided, the sooner PSG will start the process to find a replacement for the 24-year-old player. However, “Kylian Mbappé belongs to the category of star players on the transfer market, that is to say that he is not very substitutable for other players”recalls Christophe Lepetit.