The 24-year-old forward is once again being widely connected with Real Madrid, having gone close to joining them in each of the last two years.
Before leaving France, Lionel Messi fired one more shot at Paris Saint-Germain, pushing Kylian Mbappe to seek a new challenge.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who turns 36 on Saturday, has said his final farewell to Parc des Princes, stating that he will relocate to the United States to join MLS club Inter Miami. Messi is leaving Europe as a free agent after refusing to sign a new deal on the continent.
There has been speculation that Mbappe would follow suit, with the France international announcing that he will not activate a provision in his contract that would keep him on PSG’s books until 2025.
The 24-year-old attacker is once again being widely connected with Real Madrid, having gone close to joining them in each of the last two years.
Messi, according to Spain’s Defensa Central, has pushed Mbappe to leave PSG. “I prefer that you go to Barca,” he is believed to have advised a talented colleague who may one day follow in his footsteps as a Golden Ball winner. But if you want to go to Madrid, go ahead and do it; you deserve a truly winning idea.”
Mbappe is now PSG’s all-time leading goalscorer, with five Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups to his name, but the 2018 World Cup winner has yet to win the elusive Champions League, and he may need to leave his homeland to succeed in Europe.
Mbappe lashed out at France last week for how it treated Messi during his two seasons in Paris.
Messi has been booed and jeered by PSG fans following the club’s recent departures from the Champions League.
Mbappe defended his old club buddy, saying he deserved to be treated better in France. “We’re talking about potentially the best player in the history of football,” Mbappe told Gazzetta dello Sport. “When someone like Messi leaves, it’s never good news.”
“I’ve never understood why so many people were pleased that he was departing. We’re talking about Messi, who deserves to be appreciated — but he didn’t receive it in France. It’s unfortunate, but that’s how it turned out.”
