Kylian Mbappe: Why Are PSG Trying to Get Rid of the France Captain?

Paris Saint-Germain have put Kylian Mbappe up for sale after leaving the France captain out of the squad for their pre-season tour to Japan and South Korea, which departs on Saturday, July 22.

The 24-year-old and the Ligue champions have been engaged in a high-stakes game of poker for months since he signed a new deal last summer. It appears the club is now ready to move him on, as they do not intend to let him leave for nothing next summer.

Mbappe has insisted he wants to stay at PSG but does not want to sign a new deal. The club have set a deadline of July 31 to resolve the contract deadlock. The 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner had a phenomenal campaign in Qatar and also won the Ligue 1 Golden Boot.

Kylian Mbappe would reportedly favour shock move to Arsenal amidst saga with PSG

Football

Considering Mbappe is one of the best footballers on the planet, his dispute with the club's hierarchy will be a distraction to new manager Luis Enrique as he prepares for the new season. But how did it get here? Here's a breakdown of Mbappe's feud with PSG.

Mbappe refuses to sign contract extension

Earlier this month, the World Cup winner sent a letter to PSG saying he had no intention of extending his contract, which expires in 2024. This means the French superstar could leave for free next summer, a situation the club, especially president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is looking to avoid.

Mbappe reportedly wants to join Real Madrid when his contract expires next summer. If he stays without signing a new deal, it would affect the club's future plans.

PSG omit Mbappe from Asia tour

On Friday night, news broke that PSG had left the forward out of their squad for the Japan and South Korea tour, which means they are taking players who are committed ahead of the new season. However, Mbappe is prepared to sit out an entire season and then leave PSG as a free agent next summer, per Sky Sports.

They are sidelining him because they feel he wants to leave for free and join Real Madrid, a club that tried to sign him last summer. According to the Athletic, PSG wants Mbappe to go now for a fee or for a fee next summer.

The club will still have to pay Mbappe all his wages and bonus even if he leaves for nothing next summer.

Power play between Mbappe and PSG

Reports emerged this month that PSG were willing to take drastic measures to force Mbappe out, like benching him. The latest stance could be a ploy by the club to force their best player out. Nevertheless, the player is also ready to call their bluff and see who blinks first, per Sky Sports.

The Athletic also add that PSG could be laying down the law regarding player power. The club suspended Lionel Messi for his unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia last season, meaning Al-Khelaifi is not afraid to go head-to-head against the best players in the world.

After leaving Mbappe out of their pre-season tour, PSG proved that the France international has all the power in the standoff. Anything he decides to do from here will impact the club in some way.

What if Mbappe leaves PSG?

Since Mbappe holds all the cards, leaving PSG especially for free will be financially catastrophic for the club. He is only 24 years old and is the best player in the world, so losing him for free would be unacceptable to the hierarchy and fans.

The club would miss out on a big fee from the sale of Mbappe. The money would offset their financial fair play issues if they wanted to splash the big bucks to replace him.

Mbappe links to Real Madrid

Many fans and pundits expect Mbappe to join Madrid when he departs PSG. The La Liga giants have been heavily linked with the forward, and some feel he fits the club perfectly. However, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti recently refused to discuss the club's interest in Mbappe

If he ends up leaving, he could reportedly cost over €100 million. Madrid could also drag a potential deal toward the end of the window to force PSG's hands since they will be in a weaker position.

A lot can happen before July 31. If Mbappe does not trigger the extension, he will leave for free next season. There will be new twists and turns before the season starts.

Rodrygo wants Mbappe in Madrid