Immediately after the New Year 2024 celebration, the countdown for the future of Frenchman Kylian Mbappe has begun. It could be a nervous start to the year for Paris Saint-Germain and their fans, with speculation intensifying for their striker, one of only two players in football history to score a hat-trick in a final of the World Cup.
Mbappe started this campaign with a transfer deadlock, having rejected the option to renew his contract with PSG until 2025. This means that from January 1 he can talk openly with other clubs or even sign a pre-contract with Real Madrid, which remains the most preferred destination for him.
The Liverpool team also remains in the competition. These two teams will fight to the end to secure the services of the outstanding Frenchman. Mbappe can start negotiations because his contract expires in June, when he can leave as a free agent from Paris, which he joined in 2018 for 180 million euros. The French star is also PSG's all-time top scorer even though he just turned 25. He has scored 233 goals with the shirt of Paris, while he has also scored 46 goals with the representative of France.
Mbappe has not had a good season recently in Paris, who failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League the last two editions, while this edition barely managed to pass the group stage. Although Mbappe has scored 21 goals in 22 appearances in all competitions this season, he failed to make a mark when PSG lost to Newcastle (4:1) and Milan (2:1).
His frustration has been seen in some of PSG's championship matches over the last three editions, when he reacted harshly because of the team's easy goals. This was due to poor defense and lack of teamwork. He has repeatedly insisted that he wants to win the "Golden Ball" - the most prestigious football award - but also the Champions League. Whether I will win any of these trophies with Paris remains to be seen in what could be considered the last edition in French football.
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Real only wants Mbappe as a free footballer
"Mbappe has decided to leave Paris in the summer as a free agent and he is convinced that he is leaving this club at the right time as he has big goals", wrote "Le Parisien" days ago.
The Frenchman's most likely destination remains Real Madrid, a team that has tried to transfer him twice, but was rejected by PSG. The French club in 2021 rejected the offer of 180 million euros, while a year later Paris convinced Mbappe to renew the contract for another 12 months. He at Real Madrid is seen as the natural successor of Karim Benzema, who, in addition to the Champions League trophies, also won the "Golden Ball" while playing for the Spanish team. Liverpool and Chelsea have also shown interest in Mbappe's services, but it is unlikely that Mbappe will be transferred to one of these clubs before Real Madrid, a team he has always adored.
