Kylian Mbappé has confirmed that he will not be activating a player option in his current PSG contract when the deal expires next summer, setting off another furious transfer saga for the French superstar.
On Monday, news broke of a letter that Mbappé had sent to the club affirming a decision that would effectively make the 24-year-old available on a free transfer next summer if he doesn’t sign a new contract with PSG or the club doesn’t sell him this year. According to ESPN, Real Madrid is reportedly preparing a bid to sign Mbappé this summer with PSG ready to listen to offers of €150 million ($161.5 million).
Mbappe released a statement to AFP on Tuesday saying that the letter was just written confirmation after already informing PSG of his decision last summer when he opted not to pursue a move to Real Madrid and signed the two-year deal to stay in Paris.
“The only aim of the letter was to confirm what had already been spoken about previously,” the statement read. “Kylian Mbappe and his entourage confirm that this matter has not been discussed since over the course of the year, except a fortnight ago to announce the sending of the letter.
“No potential contract extension has been mentioned. After maintaining publicly in recent weeks that he would be a PSG player next season, Kylian Mbappe has not asked to leave this summer and has just confirmed to the club that he would not be activating the extra year.”
Mbappé, who became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer this season, also confirmed via Twitter that he plans to “continue next season at PSG where I am very happy.”
MENSONGES…❌
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 13, 2023
En même temps plus c’est gros plus ça passe. J’ai déjà dis que je vais continuer la saison prochaine au PSG où je suis très heureux. https://t.co/QTsoBQvZKU
Now, the onus falls on PSG, which now must decide whether to sell the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner this summer or watch him walk for free if it cant convince him to re-sign.