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Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappé is reportedly prepared to sit out the entire 2023-24 season after PSG left him off their squad for a preseason tour of Japan and South Korea.
According to Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports, PSG believe Mbappé has already agreed to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next offseason once his contract expires, which the club views as a “huge betrayal” since Mbappé previously said he wouldn’t leave for free.
As a result, PSG have reportedly made Mbappé available on the transfer market in hopes of recouping some of what would be lost by him leaving for free.
If PSG are unable to find a taker, Mbappé is reportedly “ready to call their bluff” and sit out in 2023-24 since the club has to pay him regardless.
While Real Madrid may wait until next summer to sign Mbappé if they do indeed already have an agreement in place, PSG reportedly do have at least one suitor for Mbappé currently.
Per Solhekol, Saudi Arabian soccer club Al Hilal has interest in Mbappé after missing out on Lionel Messi, who signed with MLS club Inter Miami.
Al Hilal have reportedly been looking to make a big splash, as they are believed to have engaged in talks with Tottenham Hotspur for Harry Kane previously as well.
ESPN’s Julien Laurens and Rodrigo Faez reported recently that Mbappé had no interest in signing a new contract despite PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi saying the club would sell him if he didn’t re-sign.
Laurens and Faez noted that Real Madrid is believed to be the only club Mbappé wants to play for moving forward, which may rule out a move to another club like Al Hilal.
The 24-year-old Frenchman is firmly in the conversation of being the best player in the world thanks to his success at the club and international levels.
Mbappé has scored 148 goals in 176 Ligue 1 matches for PSG, including 29 last season, which was the second-highest total of his career.
The five-time Ligue 1 champion also won the Golden Boot as the top goal scorer at last year’s World Cup, and he won the Young Player Award at the 2018 World Cup, playing a pivotal role in France’s victory.
Being without Mbappé this season would deal a major blow to PSG’s chances of winning Ligue 1 and contending in the UEFA Champions League, but the proverbial writing seems to be on the wall regarding Mbappé’s future at PSG, or lack thereof.
