Kylian Mbappe spoke to the press ahead of France’s clash with Gibraltar in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. The situation of the PSG star has been up in the air all week, since a letter was released he sent to PSG, announcing he would not renew beyond 2024.
Ahead of France’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar, captain Kylian Mbappe spoke to the press and responded to several questions about his future, which has been making headlines all week, since it was released he had no intention to renew with PSG beyond 2024.
When asked if he was going to leave the club he answered: “I’ve already responded. I’ve said that my plan is to continue at the club, to stay with PSG. It’s my only option for the moment. I’m ready to come back for the start of the season. I hope that the next questions will be about the match tomorrow against Gibraltar”.
They weren’t at first. Another question asked about the rumours that had arisen that French president, Emmanuel Macron, had been pressuring him to stay with the club: “His influence on my career? None at all. He hopes I stay in Paris, but my main goal is also to stay, so we’re on the same wavelength“.
Mbappe was not mincing his words. “I have a responsiblity as captain. A few noises won’t make me run away from this responsibility. It’s not my temperament to run away,” he added.
One of the final questions asked for a few words about his situation at the club but he felt “there is nothing left to explain“.
He continued: “People can talk, they can criticise… People don’t know all the ins and outs of this case. I know why I do what I do and I say everything I say”.
🚨 Kylian Mbappé: “At the moment, I’ve only one option: staying at PSG. I plan to be there when the season starts”. #PSG pic.twitter.com/24IM0ESI2m
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 15, 2023
After playing Gibraltar in Faro, World Cup runners-ups France host Greece on Monday in Group B of Euro 2024 qualifying. Mbappe was named as France’s new captain before they began Euro qualifying in March with wins over the Netherlands and Ireland.