PARIS (AP) – As the transfer stalemate between Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) persists, it is unclear whether the star striker will even be in the team when PSG kick off their league season at home against Lorient on Saturday.
And now Neymar’s future at the club appears to be in jeopardy.
L’Equipe, France’s main sports daily, reported on Monday evening that Neymar has informed the club that he wishes to leave this summer, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the defending French league winner.
When approached by The Associated Press, PSG stated that they would not comment on Neymar’s condition.
The 31-year-old Neymar, who came from Barcelona in 2017 for a world record sum of EUR222 million (USD244 million), is under contract until 2025.
Mbappe, who joined PSG in 2017, wants to play this season and then depart on a free transfer when his contract expires, when he might demand a large signing-on fee and a better salary. Real Madrid has been highly connected with him.
Mbappe notified the club in June that he will not be renewing his contract until 2025. PSG responded by stating that he will be sold this summer in order to prevent him from leaving for free at the conclusion of the season, and he was left out of a pre-season tour to Japan and South Korea. Since then, Mbappe has been training on his own or with peripheral players, and it is doubtful that he will be included in the team against Lorient unless an agreement is struck.
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PSG appears to be in risk of losing its two remaining superstars, having already lost seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
Messi’s transfer to Inter Miami occurred after the Argentine World Cup winner declined a one-year contract extension from PSG.
However, after years of pandering to star players, most notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar, PSG is shown a clear determination not to be pushed around.
Mbappe, who was left out of the preseason tour, posted a photo of himself online last week after working with other periphery players. As supporters waited outside the club’s training base on the outskirts of Paris, he paused to sign autographs.
PSG accepted a world record USD332 million bid for Mbappe from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, but the 24-year-old France international is set on staying in Europe. He reportedly refused to meet with Saudi club agents in Paris last month to sign another player.
Madrid have previously failed to sign Mbappe, but they are in a much stronger position this time, and Mbappe is the ideal replacement for Karim Benzema.