In a surprising turn of events on Monday, Kylian Mbappe delivered a contractual bombshell by reportedly informing Paris Saint-Germain through a letter that he has no intention of extending his current deal, set to expire in 2024.
The news first broke when the letter was sent to French outlet L’Equipe, causing PSG to feel “betrayed” by the 24-year-old’s actions, as reported by The Mirror.
Mbappe has been heavily linked with a potential departure from PSG this summer, with Real Madrid emerging as the most probable destination for the talented forward.
In a surprising twist, it has been revealed that Kylian Mbappe’s contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain in May includes an unreported clause.
According to L’Equipe, the deal is for three years, but with an additional optional year that can only be activated with the player’s consent.
This clause potentially allows Mbappe to leave the club in 2024, a year earlier than previously thought, which may reignite Real Madrid’s interest in the player sooner than expected.
The New York Times has reported that Mbappe has already informed PSG through a letter that he intends to decline the final year of his contract, effectively making him a free agent next summer.
This decision would enable him to join another club outside of France on a pre-contract agreement from January 2024 onwards.
To avoid losing him without receiving a transfer fee, PSG may be compelled to consider selling Mbappe in the current transfer window.
L’Equipe are believed to have contacted the club for comment when they were given a copy of the letter before PSG received it.
The situation is similar to that faced last summer, when Real Madrid had looked set to sign the player only for Mbappe to decide to renew with the French capital club. While the news is something of a shock, it is not without context. The club were reported to have engaged a company to use Twitter accounts to criticise its own players, including Mbappe.