Mauricio Pochettinho has admitted that he hopes Kylian Mbappe stays with Paris Saint-Germain for a long time, amid interest from Real Madrid.
Speaking in an interview with EFE (h/t MARCA), Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has provided an update on the future of superstar Kylian Mbappe, who is linked with a summer switch to Real Madrid.
Mbappe is currently in his fifth full season with PSG, having arrived from Ligue 1 rivals AS Monaco in 2017. The 23-year-old has developed into one of the deadliest forwards in the game during this period, winning several titles and trophies along the way. It has invariably led to links with the biggest clubs, with Real Madrid showing the most interest.
Los Blancos tried to sign him last summer, but PSG kept knocking down their bids. But now that the French international is in the final few months of his deal with the Parisian outfit, Real Madrid can swoop him away on a free transfer in the summer. There have been talks about the two parties already reaching an agreement over a Bosman move.
However, at the same time, PSG are making serious efforts and are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to secure Mbappe’s future at Parc des Princes. It is believed that the Ligue 1 leaders have recently tabled a bumper contract offer for the former AS Monaco starlet to convince him to stay put.
The moment Mbappe picked up an injury in PSG training ?
(via @PSG_English) pic.twitter.com/662P4UQiaT
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Amidst all the speculation, PSG and Real Madrid were drawn together in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 stage. The first leg saw Mbappe dominate the proceedings and bag a late goal to hand his team a narrow 1-0 lead in the tie. With the second leg set to be played at the Bernabeu this week, the spotlight will again be on the 23-year-old, although reports have claimed that he may be a doubt for the game.
And, Pochettino spoke about the situation of his star forward, insisting that all the talks about the move to Real Madrid are just rumours that should be ignored. “I understand the media’s need to have news about one of the best [players] in the world,” he said. “But he is our player and we hope he will be for a long time.”
“Everyone talks and you have to listen to him. He already declared that it was not the time to make a decision and let’s wait for him to make a statement. Everything else is conjecture, and guessing things that may be very far from reality. [Mbappe] lives in the present, he is involved in what he does and that is an important quality that he has as a human being,” Pochettino added.
It remains to be seen which way Mbappe decides to go when the time arrives for him to take a call on his future. For now, though, all eyes will be on the upcoming clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night and whether the 23-year-old is fit to feature or not.
