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.
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.
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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.
"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.
"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.
"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