Sources close to the situation have revealed that Kylian Mbappe has informed Paris Saint-Germain of his decision to depart the club at the conclusion of the current season, upon the expiration of his contract.
While the specifics of Mbappe’s departure are still being negotiated, an official announcement is anticipated in the coming months.
Mbappe’s salary at PSG amounts to €200 million ($215 million, £171 million) annually, and the club remains committed to transitioning away from its ‘Galacticos’ era. Notable figures such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Sergio Ramos, and Marco Verratti have departed over the past year.
Reports from The Athletic earlier in the month suggested Mbappe was inclined towards joining Real Madrid once his PSG contract ends. However, influential members within Mbappe’s circle have expressed reservations about the offer from the Spanish club, causing delays in finalizing the deal.
It has been known since early January the conditions Madrid is willing to offer Mbappe, given that his PSG contract expires after June 30. This has allowed discussions to proceed as Mbappe enters the final six months of his contract.
Despite having signed a new two-year contract in 2021 with a 12-month extension clause for the 2024-25 season, only Mbappe possesses the authority to trigger the extension, not PSG.
Last July, PSG sent Mbappe a letter accusing him of unsettling the club and setting a deadline for him to make a decision about his future. The club expressed displeasure over the leakage of Mbappe’s own letter sent in June, where he expressed his intention to leave as a free agent.
PSG had received a €300 million offer for Mbappe from Al Hilal, but eventually allowed the forward to return to the first team.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has maintained direct contact with Mbappe and has been instrumental in the club’s pursuit of the player, despite having been turned down two years ago.
Mbappe, who joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 for €180 million, has become the club’s all-time top scorer, tallying 243 goals in 290 appearances across all competitions during his six-and-a-half years with the team.
While Real Madrid appears to be the most likely destination for Mbappe, negotiations are ongoing, and another club has been rumored to be interested. Despite earlier positive indications from Mbappe himself regarding a move to Madrid, terms of their offer are yet to convince Mbappe’s camp.
