On Sunday, Marquinhos, the captain of Paris Saint-Germain, voiced his optimism for the club to mend fences with Kylian Mbappe, and subsequent reintegration of the French football superstar into the squad for the forthcoming season.
Kylian Mbappe found himself excluded from the 29-player squad selected for the pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea by the French champions, as the contract dispute persists.
‘He is an exceptional player but it is a decision that was taken over our heads, by the management,’ Marquinhos told journalists Osaka, Japan.
In a candid admission, he described the topic as ‘delicate,’ acknowledging the complications surrounding it.
‘Even in Japan you are here with your questions,’ he lamented, although new coach Luis Enrique, sitting alongside the Brazilian, dodged being questioned about Mbappe.
‘We always want to have top players with us and I hope a decision will be taken to allow him to be with us and help us this season,’ Marquinhos said.
With his current deal set to end next year, the 24-year-old Mbappe declared his intentions of not extending his stay at the Qatar-owned club. Taking this into consideration, PSG made the decision to leave him out of the upcoming trip to the East.
Read also: PSG Contract Standoff: Mbappe Backed By Players’ Union
Despite stating his wish to remain in Paris for one more year, PSG has made it known that they would prefer to sell him during this transfer window rather than see him leave for free in 2024.
Thus, PSG’s decision can be perceived as a calculated move to pressure their record-breaking top scorer, compelling him to choose between signing a fresh contract or seeking a transfer to another club.
Consequently, Luis Enrique now finds himself in a challenging situation where he may have to navigate the absence of PSG’s leading scorer from the previous season, at least until the start of September when the transfer window closes.
Mbappe made his move to PSG from Monaco in August 2017, and subsequently, he inked a fresh contract just a year ago. The terms of this two-year deal granted him the option to exercise a third season, which could extend his tenure until 2025 if he chose to do so.
Paris Saint-Germain is of the opinion that Mbappe has already secured a deal with Real Madrid to transfer as a free agent to the Spanish club at the conclusion of the upcoming season.
According to insiders familiar with the situation, Mbappe has reportedly received a lucrative offer from a club in Saudi Arabia. However, the chances of him accepting the move to that destination seem very slim.
Paris Saint-Germain is set to play against Al-Nassr in a friendly match in Osaka on Tuesday, and although Mbappe won’t be present, his younger brother Ethan will be part of the squad.