Mikael Silvestre expects Kylian Mbappe's next career move to be decided by “feelings rather than money”, as speculation continues to swirl over the striker's future.
Mbappe, 23, is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
Real Madrid remain heavily linked with the France international after having a series of huge bids, including a €200m (£171.7m) offer, rejected by PSG last summer.
PSG are reportedly willing to make Mbappe the highest-paid player in the history of football in a bid to keep him at the Parc des Princes.
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But former France international Silvestre believes Mbappe could be tempted to leave French football in search of a new challenge.
“When you go to a new club you have to prove yourself again. Not from zero but still you have to prove yourself, you have to win the fans. It is stimulating,” Silvestre told SPORTbible, on behalf of bettingexpert.com.
“Has he got the strength mentally to challenge himself by staying in Paris? I don’t know.
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“There has been so much talk about him going to Madrid, that not going could be felt as a disappointment.
“I think it relies a lot on what they [PSG] are going to achieve this year and how they finish the season. And how he feels about PSG as his home, because he made Paris his home.
“I think it is a lot about feelings rather than money.”
Mbappe recently hinted he could be willing to sign a new contract at PSG in order to overtake Edinson Cavani as the leading scorer in the club's history.
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Mbappe has scored 156 goals in 205 games for PSG and is now joint-second on the club's all-time list of top scorers, alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Only Cavani has managed more, having scored 200 goals during his time in the French capital.
Another potential motivating factor for Mbappe to remain at PSG is the club’s ongoing pursuit of a maiden Champions League trophy.
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The Ligue 1 leaders are yet to win European club football’s top prize but Mauricio Pochettino’s side remain in contention this season, after beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their last 16 tie thanks to a magnificent solo goal from Mbappe.
Should PSG go on to win the Champions League this season, Mbappe will have completed the clean sweep of major trophies in French football, having already won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the now defunct Coupe de la Ligue.
When asked if he feels PSG’s chances of keeping Mbappe could actually be harmed if they become European champions, Silvestre added: “I think exactly that.
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“It could be the end of the chapter at PSG because when you compete in that competition every season… once you get it, that’s it.
“You’ve reached your goal.”
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Topics: Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid, Football, Ligue 1, Transfers, Spotlight
Rory O'Callaghan