Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has lifted the lid on an agreement reached between himself and Kylian Mbappe ahead of a potential transfer away from the club this summer. Mbappe can now negotiate a pre-agreement during this window as he enters the final six months of his contract in France.
It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for clubs across the world to try and sign the two-time World Cup Golden Boot winner as the opportunity arises to pay no transfer fee. That doesn’t mean that things will be simple though as all parties remain tight-lipped on the situation.
“I’m very, very, very motivated for this year. It’s very important,” Mbappe said last week after PSG won the Trophee des Champions. “As I said, we’ve got titles to go after and we’ve already won one, so that’s already done. After that, no, I haven’t made up my mind yet. But in any case, with the agreement I made with the chairman this summer, it doesn’t matter what I decide.
“We managed to protect all parties and preserve the club serenity for the challenges ahead, which remains the most important thing. So we’ll say it’s secondary.”
With Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to clubs trying to sign him this year things are all extremely calm from a PSG perspective but it has done little to squash the rumours of an exit. Mbappe has long been expected to join Madrid when his time in Paris ends but recent suggestions of differing deadlines between player and club have only added fire to the speculation.
Now, addressing the possible transfer publicly, Al-Khelaifi has opened up on this agreement with his star player. “I have a gentleman’s agreement with Kylian Mbappé,” he told RMC Sport. “It’s between Kylian and me so I won’t comment about money or details.”
Al-Khelaifi added: “I have very good relationship with him. But this agreement is between us and it will stay between us.” The club president also explained that PSG would do all they can to keep him on board. “Kylian Mbappé here has the best training ground in the world, the best coach in the world, regularly playing Champions League. He’s at the centre of our project.”
He continued: “Let Kylian Mbappé be in peace, calm. He will never do anything against PSG. I trust Mbappé. He’s part of the family.”
It was only last summer that Mbappe did in fact cause serious harm and panic to PSG when he refused to trigger his contract extension into 2025. It left the French champions in a perilous position stuck between a rock and a hard place.
PSG welcomed offers for the 25-year-old in order to ensure he didn’t leave them for free, becoming a massive £200million financial black hole in the accounts, but weren’t able to see a deal completed. Mbappe rejected an offer from Saudi Arabia for what can only be described as silly money.
He is now back in the team having missed pre-season under new manager Luis Enrique. Mbappe will be attempting to lead his side to domestic and Champions League glory after the month ends but it will do little to stop the growing murmurs about his time at Parc des Princes being up.
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