French footballer, Kylian Mbappe, has been left out of PSG’s squad for their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea. His future at the French giants has been in doubt due to his reluctance to sign a new contract, which would have stopped him from leaving the club for nothing next summer.
The Paris Saint-Germain squad announced for the tour in Japan can be found.
Mbappe featured and scored in his side’s pre-season win over Le Havre on Friday, July 21. However, he will not be flying to Asia like the rest of the squad, including all six of PSG’s new signings and his 16-year-old younger brother Ethan, on Saturday, July 22.
The French football star has just one year remaining on his contract with PSG, and it's been gathered that the club wants to sell him now and secure a transfer fee rather than let him go for nothing.
According to L’Equipe, PSG is convinced that Mbappe has a deal in place to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer. The club has informed him that he must either sign a new contract (a 10-year deal has been offered, worth €1bn (£865m/$1.1bn)) or be sold.
The Athletic reports that PSG is planning life without him, adding: “The club say they asked the player to clarify his position by July 15th; however, after no communication from Mbappe or his camp this week, they have decided he is intent on leaving the club for free in the summer of 2024, for Real Madrid. The club is now open to selling Mbappe and is willing to listen to offers for the forward. The club is also said to be willing to bench Mbappe this season if he does not finalize a move to another club this summer.
The French club, who insist they are confident in their legal position on the situation, is expected to accept considerably less than the €180m they spent to sign the player in 2017 if they sell Mbappe to a European rival.
While PSG would prefer to sell Mbappe in the current transfer window rather than lose him for free next summer, very few clubs in Europe would have the financial capacity to strike a deal with the French champions and meet the striker’s current salary.
Mbappe has been courted by Real Madrid for years and came close to linking up with the Spanish giants last year before signing with PSG following a late change of heart.