SOURCES: MBAPPE READY TO SIT ON PSG BENCH FOR ONE YEAR AND LEAVE ON-FREE TO REAL MADRID
Kylian Mbappe is prepared to sit out an entire season and leave Paris St-Germain on a free next summer after the club put him up for sale on Friday.
Mbappe was not included in the squad for PSG’s pre-season tour to Japan and South Korea, which departs on Saturday, with the club making it clear they only want players on the tour who are committed, want to be at the club and that no player is more important than the club.
However, Mbappe’s immediate reaction to that decision is that he is ready to sit on the bench and not play at PSG until his contract runs out next summer.
Being France captain and with the Euros coming up next summer doesn’t alter his thinking.
He is willing to dig his heels in and sacrifice a season and there is nothing PSG can do about it. He is ready to call their bluff and see who blinks first.
Despite PSG’s tough stance, ultimately they will have to pay him his wages and bonus until he leaves for nothing next summer.
PSG are convinced Mbappe has already agreed to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer, a move that is viewed as a huge betrayal after he said he would never leave for free.
The club sought clarity from Mbappe when training resumed this month but nothing has been communicated by the player.
PSG, therefore, assume Mbappe wants to leave for free and plans for life without him must begin, starting with their pre-season tour of the Far East.
Mbappe is now for sale and the club will engage with suitors, of which there are many who have been waiting for developments.
Al Hilal are one of the clubs who want to sign Mbappe this summer. Representatives of the Saudi club have been in contact with PSG. They tried to sign Lionel Messi earlier this summer and one source has told us that they also held talks with an intermediary about the possibility of signing Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
PSG’s six summer signings will be travelling to Japan and South Korea, together with the new coach Luis Enrique and all the positively-motivated squad.
Meanwhile, Mbappe has been told to report for training as normal at the club’s new Paris training ground while the first-team squad are on tour.
Mbappe will train with other squad members who are not in the club’s plans for next season. He will be training in a group of players which includes Georginio Wijnaldum and Julian Draxler.
Credit: Sky Sports