Kylian Mbappé says Paris Saint-Germain “Au Revoir”. The football superstar is leaving the French capital club and will move abroad, as he announced in a four-minute video message on X.
“I won’t extend it,” said the 25-year-old, “the adventure will end in a few weeks.” Mbappé did not reveal where he would be headed. However, it has long been an open secret that Real Madrid is available as a new employer.
In the partly emotional message, the top striker also thanked his coaches, including Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, who accompanied him during his seven-year stay in Paris. In 2017, as a highly talented youngster, he moved from AS Monaco to Paris, and a year later he shot France in the World Cup final to their second World Cup title after 1998. Mbappé explained that he had grown as a player and person during this time.
Champions League nuisance
The exceptional player collected six championships and three cup titles on the Seine, and was top scorer in Ligue 1 five times. Only internationally, in the Champions League, did he and PSG repeatedly fail to achieve their big goal of being able to carry the trophy around the Eiffel Tower. In 2020, Mbappé missed the final victory against FC Bayern Munich with Tuchel as coach, and a few days ago, after two 0-1 defeats in the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund, they were once again eliminated early.
Despite the failures in European club football, he sees the club “in good hands,” said Mbappé. PSG is a club “that we either love or hate – I’ve chosen to love it.” He has never regretted signing with this prestigious club. The announcement that he is leaving the country is difficult for him, “but I think I need that, a new challenge after seven years.”
First beat Lyon, then to Real?
There has been speculation about Mbappé’s departure for months. Spain’s record champions Real Madrid are being considered as the new club. Mbappé did not reveal whether he would play for the Champions League finalists in the future – he still wants to complete one last task beforehand and lead PSG to the Cup victory against Lyon in the Coupe de France on May 25th.
After the European Cup defeat against BVB on Tuesday, he reacted angrily to a provocative question about his possible future employer Real. He was asked whether he would keep his fingers crossed for the Whites in the other semi-final between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Mbappé then looked up in annoyance, pressed his lips together and then disappeared from the microphones and the image of the TV cameras. An answer to his future should at least follow soon.
