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Kylian Mbappe Dismisses PSG Exit Rumours Amid Real Madrid Interest
July 16, 2018
Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has ruled out any chance of leaving the club this summer and said he will continue in the French capital despite interest from Real Madrid.
Mbappe scored in France's 4-2 win over Croatia in Sunday's 2018 FIFA World Cup final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, and he told reporters afterwards that he's set to remain in Paris: "I will stay with PSG, continuing on my path with them. I am at the beginning of my career."
Most thought PSG would have to consider selling their forward, who officially joined this summer for £166 million after spending last season on loan from AS Monaco, because of financial fair play regulations.
However, Marca's Pablo Polo reported they've satisfied UEFA by selling other assets. PSG's club-record €159 million worth of sales in the past year was enough to ease the administrative body's apprehensions.
Mbappe, 19, is one of, if not the, hottest property in world football right now, owing to the fact that he continues to demonstrate his worth as a world-class player and still has a decade-and-a-half of his career in front of him, per ESPN FC:
There's little telling what the limit is for PSG's rising superstar, and Real are one of the few clubs that could pose a real threat to Les Parisiens in retaining the services of their wonderkid.
His performances at the World Cup even caught the attention of three-time winner Pele:
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised at the maturity of Mbappe's response to transfer rumours, considering he brings a sophisticated mentality to his work on the pitch. Followed for some years as a rising star among French ranks, he's used to dealing with expectations, but he has delivered on a different level in recent years.
While Neymar's reputation was damaged by his diving antics at the World Cup, Mbappe let his football do his talking. Writer Mohammed Ali highlighted how his feats have seen him become PSG's new poster child:
Mohammed Ali @mohammedali_93One thing I find hilarious from this World Cup is that Neymar is no longer the Prince of Paris. In Mbappe, PSG have a veritable world class player, a world champion, and one that will be at the pinnacle for many years to come. No need to let Neymar walk all over them anymore
It's difficult to believe one so young could become any more valuable than the £166 million fee PSG paid to make his move to the Parc des Princes permanent, but winning the World Cup—and being the first teenager to score in the men's tournament final since Pele—will have done that.
Mbappe was born and raised near Paris, giving the club further cause to be upbeat about their chances of hanging on to his services for the foreseeable future.
The teenager's talent is so unique that it's inevitable other clubs will come calling for him again, but Mbappe is primed for his second season in Paris and will ignore any advances for the time being.