PSG will not allow French superstar Mbappe to go for free: Chair

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will not allow French superstar Kylian Mbappe to go for free, the club's president said Wednesday.

"We cannot let the best player in the world right now leave for free. That is impossible," Qatari businessman and PSG chair Nasser Al-Khelaifi said at a news conference where he introduced new head coach Luis Enrique.

"Our position is very clear. If Kylian Mbappe wants to stay, we want him to stay. But he needs to sign a new contract," said Al-Khelaifi.

In June, Mbappe, 24, denied rumors about his move to Real Madrid this summer.

"Lies... At the same time, the bigger the lie, the more they believe. I have already said that next season I will continue at PSG, where I am very happy," he wrote on Twitter at that time.

In 2022, Mbappe extended his contract with PSG until 2025, after he was heavily linked to Real Madrid during the 2021-22 season.

France's Le Parisien previously claimed Mbappe wants to join Real Madrid this summer after compatriot Karim Benzema left that team.

Last month, Benzema, 35, joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad after leaving Real Madrid.

Mbappe is an integral part of PSG and the French national team where he helped Les Bleus win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

He is a six-time French champion, one with Monaco in 2017. Mbappe won the remaining titles with PSG.

He scored 212 goals in 260 appearances and hold the all-time scoring record with PSG, beating Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani, who is now with Valencia.