PSG feel let down by Mbappe, who is tipped to join Real despite tentative discussions about a swap deal for Tottenham’s Harry Kane
Kylian Mbappe will continue to be excluded from the Paris Saint-Germain squad after refusing a new contract at the club which would have had a “guaranteed sale clause” allowing him to leave next summer.
PSG’s first-team is back in training in France on Monday, after returning from their pre-season tour to Japan and South Korea, but Mbappe will stay with the so-called “loft group” who are away from the ‘A’ main squad. The decision was taken on Sunday by the PSG hierarchy.
The “loft group” is comprised of players who are for sale and do not feature in PSG’s plans with the club rapidly re-shaping its team for the forthcoming campaign. They have agreed a deal to sign 22-year-old Portuguese international striker Goncalo Ramos from Benfica for 80million euros and are closing in on an agreement to bring in Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona for around 50million euros.
PSG would love Mbappe to stay but, with one year left on his contract, they believe he already has an agreement in place to join Real Madrid for free next summer. This has infuriated the club – they are considering making a formal ‘tapping up’ complaint to Fifa – who also point out that the 24-year-old has given eight interviews in which he has said he would want PSG to receive a fee for him when he eventually leaves. They believe Mbappe also reiterated this stance privately when his current contract was negotiated.