Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has criticized Paris Saint-Germain’s treatment of disputes over Kylian Mbappé’s future, letting the star player train with the reserves after he refused to renew his contract with the club.
Mbappé was banned from PSG’s pre-season tour of Japan after club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi demanded he agree a new contract after June 2024 or accept his retirement this summer.
PSG have accepted a world-record 300 million euro ($332 million) bid for Mbappé from Al Hilal, but sources have told ESPN that the France international is yet to hold talks with the Saudi Pro-League.
Hidalgo joined the debate over Mbappé’s future in an interview with French radio station RMC on Tuesday, questioning PSG’s tough stance on the player.
“I don’t understand what PSG are playing,” Hidalgo said as quoted by ESPN.
“Kylian Mbappé is the best player in the world. I admit that I don’t understand him at all,” he continued.
“Kylian is an extraordinary player and we have to keep him in Paris,” he added. “I think it’s also his desire to stay here as long as possible. The question is: what did PSG do?”
Sources tell ESPN that despite being suspended from the first team, Mbappé has looked happy and calm in training this week.
The player has publicly stated that he wants to stay in Paris for one more season until his contract expires, but PSG are not ready to accept his departure on a free transfer.
Sources have told ESPN that Al Hilal are the only club that have made a formal offer for Mbappé, but if he does move, he is only interested in joining Real Madrid.
Madrid have followed Mbappé for more than a decade and have tried to sign him in the last two summer transfer windows.
The number 9 shirt for the LaLiga club is now vacant after Karim Benzema left for Saudi Arabia at the end of last season.
But Madrid are waiting for Mbappé or PSG to make the first move, sources have told ESPN.
They know Mbappé would love a move to the Spanish capital and have been in regular contact over the last few months, but tread carefully after the player made a last-minute decision to stay at PSG last summer.
