Tensions between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Kylian Mbappe have been eased following productive discussions, allowing the star striker to return to training. Mbappe, who was absent from PSG’s match against Lorient, is involved in a contract standoff. While he desires to play this season and leave for free when his contract expires, PSG intends to sell him to prevent such an outcome.
PSG released a statement on Sunday, stating, “After very constructive and positive discussions between Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe before the PSG-Lorient match, the player has returned to training with the first-team group this morning.”
According to reports, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi informed the players during training that Mbappe is once again part of the squad for the season. However, Mbappe has expressed his desire to stay and play until the end of the campaign when his contract runs out. Therefore, little has changed in that regard.
Prior to this development, Mbappe was excluded from PSG’s pre-season tour and trained separately from the regular first-team players. Now, he may have the opportunity to play against Toulouse on Saturday.
PSG is in clear need of Mbappe’s contributions, as they have only won one of their four pre-season games and struggled in attack against Lorient without Mbappe and Neymar.
Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal made a world-record $332 million bid for Mbappe, who reportedly declined to meet their representatives when they were in Paris last month. It is widely believed that Mbappe intends to join Real Madrid next season on a free transfer, accompanied by a substantial signing-on fee.
PSG did not disclose whether Mbappe has initiated negotiations for a new contract. However, the positive talks suggest an improvement in relations that had soured after Mbappe declined the one-year contract extension offered by the club in June. This decision left Al-Khelaifi bewildered and disappointed, considering the club’s previous efforts to meet Mbappe’s wage demands when he signed a contract until 2024 (with an option for 2025) in May last year.
New coach Luis Enrique, who expressed hope for a resolution regarding Mbappe’s future, also faced early pressure due to this situation.
While the situation with Al-Khelaifi may have been partially resolved, it is evident that Mbappe holds considerable leverage. Even though Mbappe welcomed France winger Ousmane Dembele to PSG, they will only have one season together if Mbappe departs as planned next summer.
Meanwhile, Brazil forward Neymar and midfielder Marco Verratti, both of whom did not play against Lorient, could potentially leave PSG this summer. There have been rumors linking them to the lucrative Saudi Arabian league.
Overall, Luis Enrique has a lot of work to do in a limited timeframe to make PSG competitive for the start of the Champions League.
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