Report: Neymar Tells PSG He Wants to Leave as Mbappe’s Standoff Continues

As the transfer standoff between Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) continues, uncertainty looms over whether the star striker will be in the squad when PSG kicks off its league season at home against Lorient on Saturday.

Adding to the upheaval, France’s leading sports daily L’Equipe reported on Monday evening that Neymar has expressed his desire to leave the club this summer, further exacerbating the turmoil surrounding the defending French league champion.

PSG, however, has chosen not to comment on Neymar’s situation when contacted by The Associated Press.

Neymar, the 31-year-old Brazilian forward, made headlines when he joined PSG in 2017 for a world-record fee of €222 million from Barcelona. He is currently under contract with the club until 2025. The recent developments around his future have raised questions about his continuity at PSG.

On the other hand, Kylian Mbappe, who also joined PSG in 2017, has expressed his desire to play for the club this season and then leave on a free transfer once his contract expires. This move would allow him to request a substantial signing-on fee and a higher salary. Mbappe has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, and the Spanish club has shown interest in acquiring the French superstar.

In June, Mbappe informed the club of his decision not to take up the extra year on his contract, which would have extended his stay until 2025. PSG responded by stating their intention to sell him this summer to prevent him from leaving for free at the end of the season. Consequently, they left him out of a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea. Since then, Mbappe has been training separately or with fringe players, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming match against Lorient unless an agreement is reached.

Paris Saint-Germain has already suffered the loss of Lionel Messi, the record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who decided to move to Inter Miami after rejecting the club’s one-year contract extension offer.

While PSG has historically shown leniency towards its star players, recent developments indicate a change in approach. After being omitted from the preseason tour, Mbappe posted a photo of himself online, training with some fringe players. However, he remains focused on staying in Europe, reportedly declining a meeting with representatives from Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal, who made a world-record $332-million bid for him. Real Madrid remains keen on acquiring Mbappe, and the club’s strengthened position in this transfer window has raised hopes of securing the Frenchman’s signature.

The 24-year-old forward is PSG’s all-time leading scorer with 212 goals but has yet to win the UEFA Champions League. He aims to achieve success on par with legendary striker Karim Benzema, who left Madrid after 14 trophy-laden seasons and joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad. Mbappe sees a move to Real Madrid as a legacy signing, offering him an opportunity to emulate Benzema’s accomplishments and become a future Ballon d’Or winner.

As the transfer window deadline approaches, the futures of both Neymar and Mbappe continue to be subjects of intense speculation, leaving PSG to navigate through uncertain times.

The club faces the challenge of maintaining its competitive edge while dealing with the potential departure of two key superstars.