Kylian Mbappe is still as undecided as ever on whether to stay at Paris Saint-Germain or pursue a move away from the Ligue 1 giants.
In one of his most honest updates on his future yet, the 22-year-old said he does not know where the “best place” for him to ply his trade is.
Mbappe has 12 months remaining on his deal at the Parc des Princes, with months of contract renewal talks bearing little fruit so far.
But the France forward is still some way off reaching a verdict on his next move, with lingering doubts over he will be happiest.
(Image: REUTERS)
“I need to take the right decision, which is hard, and give myself the best opportunity to decide well,” said Mbappe.
“I am somewhere where I’m happy, I feel good. But is it the best place for me? I don’t yet have an answer.”
Mbappe’s uncertain update on his future is a polar opposite to the declaration issued by PSG chief executive Nasser Al-Khelaifi earlier this month.
The World Cup winner has been heavily linked with Real Madrid and Liverpool over the last year, but Al-Khelaifi warned he would never be sold.
“I will be clear: Kylian will be staying in Paris,” Al-Khelaifi told French outlet L’Equipe . “We are never going to sell him, and he will never leave for free.
“I never give details to the press about ongoing negotiations. All I can say is that it is coming along nicely.
“I hope that we will find a common ground. It is Paris, Kylian’s country and he has a mission: not just to be a football player, but to promote the French league, his country and the capital city.”
What would you advise Kylian Mbappe to do? Have your say in the comments.
Al-Khelaifi is not the only football executive in France to task Mbappe with being the flagbearer for Ligue 1; last month, French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet delivered a similar message.
He told Le Parisien : “I want him to stay in France, and at PSG. He is young, and PSG still have many challenges to meet.
“It does not concern me directly, but players of this level, I prefer that they are with us. My preference is very clear, and in my opinion, it is even better to stay.”
Mbappe – a Paris native – plundered 42 goals and grabbed 11 assists in all competitions this season, and is widely considered to be one of the best players in the world.
But the responsibility bestowed on him by football bigwigs in his native country comes at the price of increased scrutiny from the French media.
In April, Mbappe admitted constantly being in the spotlight “gets tiring”, which may be influencing his current uncertainty over where he would be happiest.
