Kylian Mbappe has made some revealing comments about his final season at Paris Saint-Germain, just a day after his long-awaited move to Real Madrid was confirmed.
Back in June last year, the 26-year-old France international sent a formal letter to PSG informing them of his decision to not activate the option to extend his contract beyond 2024.
PSG were said to be "positive" over talks surrounding a new contract, so Mbappe's decision is believed to have taken the club by surprise as they were making a significant effort to extend his stay.
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In the coming weeks, Mbappe was ostracised from the first-team set-up. In fact, he was left out of their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea following the appointment of Luis Enrique.
After much speculation surround his future, he eventually returned to the first-team set-up and helped PSG to another Ligue 1 title after scoring 27 league goals during the 2023/24 campaign.
It has been a somewhat turbulent time for Mbappe but on Monday, his exit from the Parc des Princes was finally confirmed when Real Madrid announced they had agreed terms with the French striker.
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"A dream come true. So happy and proud to join the club of my dream, Real Madrid," he said. "Nobody can understand how excited I am right now. Can't wait to see you, Madridistas, and thanks for your unbelievable support. Hala Madrid!"
Now, a day after the move was confirmed, Mbappe has lifted the lid on his final season at PSG.
Speaking to reporters in a press conference ahead of France's friendly against Luxembourg on Wednesday, the former Monaco man opened up about the situation.
“I was made to understand that I would no longer play for PSG [after informing them of my desire to leave at the end of the season]," he said.
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"I was told right to my face, and quite violently, so I was convinced that I wasn’t going to play. Luis Enrique and Luis Campos saved me. Without them, I would never have stepped onto the pitch again. That is the truth."
Mbappe added: "That’s why my ambition was different this year. It was below my standards but just playing, stringing together matches and winning trophies was my biggest pride but next season, I won’t settle for a season like that."
Last month, Mbappe announced his impending departure from PSG in a video shared on his social media accounts.
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"I’ve always said that I would speak with you when the time comes," he said. "It's my last year at Paris St-Germain. I will not extend and the adventure will come to an end in a few weeks."
Mbappe added: "It's a lot of emotions, many years where I had the chance and the great honour to be a member of the biggest French club, one of the best in the world.
"It allowed me to arrive here, to have my first experience in a club with a lot of pressure, to grow as a player of course, by being alongside some of the best in history, some of the greatest champions.
"It's hard and I never thought it would be this difficult to announce that. But I think I needed this, a new challenge, after seven years."
Topics: Kylian Mbappe, France, Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1
Jack Kenmare