Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe has confirmed that he requested a move away from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
Real Madrid are longtime admirers of the 22-year-old and tried to land the France international this summer, but the Ligue 1 giants dug their heels in to keep their superstar despite his contract expiring at the end of this season.
Speaking with RMC Sport, Mbappe confirms that he asked PSG to leave Parc des Princes this past transfer window and had hoped that a significant fee would enable Les Parisiens to adequately replace him.
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“I asked to leave,” he said. “From the moment that I did not want to extend, I wanted PSG to get a transfer fee so that they could find a quality replacement. PSG is a club that has given me a lot. I have always been happy over the years that I have spent here, and I still am happy.”
“I announced it early enough for the club to react,” he added. “I wanted for everyone to come out of this strongly, to work hand in hand, to find a good deal and I respected that. I said that if you do not want me to go, then I will stay.”
According to Mbappe, who can potentially negotiate with new clubs from this coming January, he asked PSG to leave back in July and not in August as has been made out in recent months. Also, the change in negotiations being handled by sporting director Leonardo to chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi was not down to his relationship with the Brazilian.
“People say that I turned down six or seven extension offers and that I did not want to speak with Leonardo anymore,” said the former AS Monaco man. That is totally untrue. I was told: ‘Kylian, now you speak with the president.'”
“It is not for me to judge but my position was clear,” added Mbappe when asked by former PSG player Jerome Rothen if it was because Leonardo was judged incapable of striking a deal. “I said that I wanted to leave, and I said it early enough.
“Personally, I do not really appreciate it being said that ‘left it until the last week of August’ as that sounds thief-like. I said at the end of July that I wanted to leave.”
Mbappe is linking up with the France squad this week for the UEFA Nations League final four in Italy while he and his PSG teammates just lost 2-0 away at Stade Rennais for their first defeat of the Ligue 1 season just days after beating Manchester City by the same score in UEFA Champions League Group A.