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25th Jul 2023

Kylian Mbappé does not want to move to Saudi Arabia

Callum Boyle

Al Hilal made a world-record bid for Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé reportedly has no intention of making a move to Saudi Arabia this summer.

Paris Saint-Germain accepted Al Hilal’s world-record bid of £259m for Mbappé and gave permission for the Saudi Pro League to speak to the Frenchman to finalise the deal.

Al Hilal would also pay the striker a reported salary of €700m for a single season with the club and had included a clause which would allow him to move to Real Madrid in 2024.

PSG allegedly believe that Mbappé already has an agreement in place with the Spanish giants.

Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe’s understandable reaction

Kylian Mbappe was put up for sale by the French side after he refused to extend his contract, which expires this summer, so that they can cash in rather than lose him for nothing.

Relevo have claimed though that the World Cup winner does not want to make the move to Middle East and would prefer to see out his contract at PSG and is even said to be willing to “sit on the bench” for the duration of the season.

That take is understandable from a player that wants to be one day considered among the very best in the world. Even tapping out for a season and lolling about on huge Saudi wages, in the prime of his career, would damage the forward’s legacy.

The forward was recently left out of the club’s pre-season tour of Japan while they sort out his future.

A number of other teams are interested in signing Mbappé, but fees and wages may prove to be a stumbling block. Barcelona, Manchester United and Tottenham are said to be the three clubs considering a move, but all seem unlikely.

Check out our House of Football interview with the Irish women’s team record goal scorer Olivia O’Toole:

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