PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are reportedly open to the idea of losing Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid for free in 2022, according to reports.
However, the French champions will do everything in their power to tie their striker down to a new contract.
PSG are so desperate not to sell Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid they would rather let him see out his contract and go for free in 2022
Real Madrid were plotting to make a summer move to land Mbappe in a stunning deal, quite possibly for a world-record fee, to become the long-term No9 at the Bernabeu.
But due to the coronavirus crisis and economic impact, Los Blancos’ ‘Operation Mbappe’ plans have had to be shelved for 12 months meaning they will try and complete the deal next year instead.
However, according to AS, PSG are so determined not to sell the World Cup winner to Real – regardless of price – that they would rather let him go for nothing when his contract expires in 2022 and get another two seasons out of him.
The Spanish giants are confident Mbappe will not sign an extension at the Parc des Princes because he wants to make the switch.
However, ESPN report that the French side’s primary focus once the lockdown is over is to get the 21-year-old to put pen to paper on a lucrative new deal.
Madrid tried to keep PSG happy by ruling out their interest in both Mbappe and his team-mate Neymar.
However, Zinedine Zidane burned any bridges that were being built when he declared his countryman dreams of playing for Real Madrid.
The Real boss said in November: “At the moment he plays for Paris Saint-Germain, we’ll see in the future if that changes. I know he always said his dream is to play for Real Madrid.”
PSG’s sporting director Leonardo was not happy.
He hit back: “Honestly, it bothers me a little. This is not the time to talk about dreams and all that. Stop it. Mbappe is very important to us and this is not the time to destabilise him.
“He is the best young French player, a world champion, and one of the best in the world. This is not the time to try to unsettle him. It is time to stop. He still has two and a half years on his contract with us.”
Zidane responded by declaring his “love” for Mbappe – who admitted Zizou was his “first idol” and had posters of Real Madrid stars on his bedroom wall growing up.
Then PSG boss Thomas Tuchel got involved and said: “I do not know how much infatuation Zidane has regarding Mbappe. Sometimes you love players that you can’t have.”
And Leonardo defiantly added: “Mbappe is going to stay, one hundred per cent.”
Mbappe has scored 90 goals in just 120 appearances since making the switch from Monaco to PSG, initially on loan, in 2017.
But tensions have risen between the forward and Tuchel over a number of substitutions, including in a 5-0 win over Montpellier in February.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
