French striker, Kylian Mbappe, has officially announced his exit from Paris Saint Germain after a series of back and forth over his future at the club.
Speaking on a video shared on his social media handle, the 26-year-old confirmed he will play his last game at Parc des Princes on Saturday, May 11 when PSG will host Toulouse in Ligue 1 matchday 33 clash.
“Hi everyone, it’s Kylian. I wanted to speak to you. I always said that I would speak to you when the time comes and so I wanted to announce to you all that it’s my last year at Paris Saint-Germain.
“I will not extend and the adventure will come to an end in a few weeks. I will play my last game at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. It’s a lot of emotions. Many years I had the chance and the great honor to be a member of the biggest French club and one of the biggest in the world, which allowed me to arrive here,” he said.
Kylian Mbappe and PSG contract bruhaha
Mbappe’s PSG exit announcement is no surprise following the preceding contract renewal standoff that ensued between him and the PSG hierarchy.
Futballnews understands PSG wanted to extend the Les Bleus skipper’s contract but met stiff opposition from the player, who stood his ground to reject the extension.
The two parties were submerged in a seething contract row with the club dropping him from the preseason tour and threatening to forcefully sell him to Saudi outfit Al-Hilal if he insist on not renewing his contract with the club.
Reacting to the club’s antics, Mbappe refused to agree personal terms with Al-Hilal with reports he is ready to sit out on the bench throughout the season instead of joining the Saudi outfit. Consequently, PSG manager Luis Enrique dropped him from PSG’s opening Ligue 1 match this season as the fallout raged on.
Why PSG pushed for Mbappe’s contract renewal
While Mbappe had the leeway to decide his PSG future, it is understood the club did not want to lose him on a free transfer, hence the move to have him renew or be sold last summer.
Tensions finally subsided with a resolution reached, thanks to a truce brokered with the player after showdown talks with the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
While the terms of the peace deal was not disclosed, Kylian Mbappe was reinstated and was back in the club’s starting lineup.
Kylian Mbappe stats for PSG
Mbappe shoved his tense relationship with the club’s hierarchy and led the charge as the Ligue 1 giants aced to their record-extending 12th Ligue 1 title, a third on the bounce since the 2021/22 season. He scored a league-leading 26 goals with 7 assists in 28 appearances.
He was also key to Luis Enrique’s Champions League-chasing squad, scoring 8 goals in 12 games to take the team to the semifinals where they lost to Borussia Dortmund.
His exit decision comes three days after the Champions League semi-final loss to Borussia Dortmund. After the game, an egg-faced Mbappe walked out of journalists in the press conference when asked whether he would support Real Madrid in the other semi-final match against Bayern Munich.
The French forward has enjoyed a heroic and epic seven-year career with PSG, winning all available trophies in the French elite division. Sadly, PSG’s frequent capitulation in the UEFA Champions League has haunted the footballing prospect, keeping him some miles below known giants and icons of the sport.
Why Mbappe is leaving PSG and his next destination
It is believed his decision on his footballing future away from PSG was influenced by the club’s Champions League deadlock.
He reportedly wanted a stronger football project (not merely overbloated monetary incentives) enough to help him realize his dream of conquering Europe and hitting the peaks of his career.
PSG manager Luis Enrique joked Mbappe could change his mind if PSG win the 2023/24 Champions League but it was evident the World Cup winner had made up his mind.
Mbappe joined PSG in 2017 as the most expensive teenager in football history at the sum of £166m. He has won 6 Ligue 1 titles, 4 Coup de France, 2 Coup de la Ligue, 3 Trophee des Champions, and other several individual awards.
He has been linked to a move to Real Madrid with reports he has already reached an agreement with the LaLiga giants.
