Kylian Mbappe confirms he told PSG in July he wanted to leave

The French World Cup winner’s future was the subject of much speculation over the summer as he emerged as a primary target for Real Madrid.

Kylian Mbappe in a file photo; Credit: Twitter/@KMbappe
By Karthik Raman | Oct 6, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence on his much-talked-about contractual situation with Paris Saint-Germain, as he wanted to leave the club in the summer window. The French World Cup winner’s future was the subject of much speculation over the summer as he emerged as a primary target for Real Madrid. Even though a deal never materialised, Mbappe admitted that Madrid are the only side he would have joined. However, contrary to some reports, the Frenchman has confirmed that he told PSG he wanted to leave in July.

With Kylian Mbappe continues to stall on signing a new contract at Parc des Princes, it was reported that Real Madrid tried to sign the talented youngster with multiple offers in the summer. However, nothing materialised, as he remained at the French capital. PSG sporting director Leonardo had earlier admitted that Mbappe had requested a transfer and also slammed Madrid for reportedly using underhand tactics in their pursuit of the French World Cup winner.

With the transfer saga set to rumble on, Mbappe has now confirmed that he expressed his desire to move on from the French capital. However, the forward has dismissed speculations that he rejected several chances to sign a new contract with the Ligue 1 club.

What did Kylian Mbappe say?

Kylian Mbappe told RMC Sport: “People said I turned down six or seven extension offers, that I don’t want to talk to Leonardo anymore, that’s absolutely not true. I asked to leave, because from the moment I did not want to extend, I wanted the club to have a transfer fee to be able to sign a quality replacement.”

“It is a club which has given me a lot, I have always been happy, the four years that I spent here, and I still am. I announced it early enough that the club can react. I wanted everyone to come out of this stronger, that we leave hand in hand, to make a good deal, and I respected that. I said, ‘if you don’t want me to leave, I will stay’.”

Mbappe also expressed having an uneasy feeling when president Al-Khelaifi said that he would not leave for free. He said: “It’s scary when your president says: ‘He’s never going to go free’. When I heard that, I swallowed hard. I thought, ‘So what’s going to happen now?’.”

‘I wanted to discover something else’

Kylian Mbappe also explained the reason for wanting to leave the club. Asked about why he was looking for a way out of PSG, Mbappe told L’Equipe: “I thought that my adventure was over. I wanted to discover something else. I’d been in the French league six or seven years.

“I’ve given what I tried to at Paris and I think I’ve done it well. To arrive at 18 post-youth development and do everything I have, I think that’s something remarkable. But everyone is free to draw the conclusions they want but that’s my assessment. Leaving was the logical next step.”

When asked whether he wanted to leave regardless of the possible destinations on offer, Mbappe explained: “No, I am attached to Paris, and if I had left this summer it would have only been for Real.”





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