Kylian Mbappe's contract at the Parc des Princes runs until the summer of 2022 and the France international has so far refused to sign an extension to his current deal; the 22-year-old has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu throughout the summer
Wednesday 25 August 2021 19:21, UK
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo says the club have turned down Real Madrid's €160m (£137m) bid for Kylian Mbappe despite the player making it clear he wants to leave.
The France World Cup winner, 22, joined PSG from fellow Ligue 1 club Monaco for £166m in 2017 and is out of contract next summer.
Mbappe has won three Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups at the Parc des Princes.
"Yes, we said no verbally to Real," Leonardo told RMC Sport. "No one is being held back. If someone wants to leave and our conditions are met, we'll see.
"The offer is considered to be a far cry from what Kylian is worth today. We also owe part of this money to Monaco and we consider that the bid is not sufficient."
Mbappe, who has started all three of his side's Ligue 1 games this season - scoring in a 4-2 win against Brest on Friday - has also promised PSG he will not leave for free, according to Leonardo.
"Kylian wants to leave, it seems clear to me. If Real Madrid makes an offer, it seems clear to me... I am taking a position which I think is clear to everyone. If he wants to leave, we are not going to hold him back, but it will be on our terms," the former PSG midfielder said.
"Kylian always promised that he would never leave the club for free. That's what he's always told us.
"We have no plans to talk to Real Madrid again. The deadline is August 31 at midnight. That's how the transfer window is, but we are clear about this: we want to keep him and extend his deal. But we're not going to let him go for less than what we paid for him, when we still owe Monaco money."
PSG signed Argentina forward Lionel Messi earlier this month after he left Barcelona. Leonardo says the club has tried to prove to Mbappe that he is central to the club's vision but not "above the project" with their offer of a new contract.
"Our position has always been to keep Kylian, to extend his deal, that has always been our goal and still is," the Brazilian added.
"We made two important offers to Kylian: one at the level of the top players in the squad two months ago, and one above these players very recently."
Real Madrid are now considering whether to make an improved bid for Mbappe, although they believe their opening offer of €160m was fair given they can sign him on a free transfer next summer.
The French forward - who will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with Real on January 1 - wants to leave PSG and hopes the club will allow him to do so.
However, Mbappe accepts negotiations could be drawn out until the end of the window, and he will continue to train professionally in the meantime.
PSG have always been aware that Mbappe is a Real fan and that the club represents his dream move.
Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
"It's time to get the popcorn out. War has broken out between two of the world's biggest clubs. The background to this is that Mbappe has one year left on his contract while PSG are trying to get him to sign a new deal.
"The player himself wants to go to Real Madrid. Two days ago, Madrid made a bid of £137m even though he's only got 12 months left on his contract.
"That bid has been verbally rejected and PSG are very unhappy about how Real have gone about this. The sporting director Leonardo has been speaking and he says the way Real have gone about this 'we do not like at all'. PSG believe that what Madrid have wanted all along is to get the player for free next summer, so why have they made this bid?
"They've made it so late in the window knowing PSG would turn it down, just so that Real can turn around and say to Mbappe, 'look, this is how much we wanted you. We're even willing to spend this much when you've got a year left on your contract'.
"Real are getting ready for next summer, but the only problem for Leonardo is that Mbappe has given his word to PSG that he'll never leave the club for free."
French football expert Tom Williams:
"I think this is a huge game-changer. In light of what Leonardo has said to the French media, I think Mbappe is closer now to joining Real Madrid within this summer transfer window than he is to staying at PSG. Leonardo has said that Mbappe wants to leave and it's the first time that anyone at PSG has confirmed that.
"He's said that PSG don't want to sell and that's been their stance all along. He's also said that if any player wants to leave, then the club won't stand in their way provided their valuation is met. He's basically paving the way for Real Madrid to come back in with another bid.
"Assuming their bid matches what PSG are holding out for, then I think we could see Mbappe standing on the Bernabeu pitch with a Real Madrid shirt within the next week."
