PSG Drop Mbappe From Squad For Asian Tour
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the French champions, have left star striker Kylian Mbappe out of their squad for a pre-season tour of Japan, raising further uncertainty about his future with the club.
No specific reason was given by PSG for the omission of the French captain from the 29-player squad that will travel to Japan on Saturday. However, PSG included Mbappe’s younger brother, 16-year-old Ethan Mbappe, in the squad, along with the club’s other superstar Neymar.
Despite the omission from the Japan tour, Mbappe has been actively involved in PSG’s pre-season preparations and recently played the last 30 minutes in a friendly match against Le Havre, where he scored a goal.
In May, Mbappe declared that he would not extend his contract with PSG, which is set to expire next year, but expressed his desire to remain at the club for another season. He mentioned that he intends to honor his existing contract, which would allow him to become a free agent in the summer of 2023 and potentially leave PSG without a transfer fee.
However, PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi recently stated that Mbappe “must sign a new contract,” emphasizing the club’s desire to retain him and avoid losing him on a free transfer next season. Khelaifi even set a deadline of “maximum two weeks” for Mbappe to make a decision, coinciding with the team’s departure for Japan.
Mbappe’s potential departure has generated interest from other top clubs, particularly Real Madrid. The Spanish giants were close to signing him last year before he agreed to a new deal with PSG.
Mbappe joined PSG on a season-long loan from Monaco in 2017 and made the move permanent the following year in a record-breaking transfer deal. He has since become one of the world’s leading forwards, winning the World Cup with France in 2018 and playing a crucial role in PSG’s domestic success.
PSG’s Asian tour will feature matches against Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, Cerezo Osaka, and Inter Milan in Japan, followed by a game against Jeonbuk Motors in South Korea. The tour will provide an opportunity for new coach Luis Enrique to assess his squad ahead of the upcoming season.
