Mbappe never wanted to join Real Madrid – PSG president Al-Khelaifi

Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid Paris Saint-Germain
Photo: Getty images

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi insists that Kylian Mbappe never actually wanted to leave the Ligue 1 club for Real Madrid.

Mbappe was close to moving to the Santiago Bernabeu on a free transfer this summer before signing a fresh extension to stay at PSG.

“I rejected €180 million last summer from Real Madrid for Mbappe because I knew that Kylian wanted to stay at PSG,” he told Marca.

“I know him very well, I know what he and his family want, and they don’t move for money. He has chosen to play here for his city.”

Al-Khelaifi also replied La Liga chief Javier Tebas who dubbed Mbappe’s PSG contract an insult to football.

“What we do, we do it because we know we can. It is not our style to talk about other leagues, clubs or federations,” he added.

“We are not giving lessons and we are not going to allow anyone to give us lessons. Every year is the same. We are going to continue building our project.”

What Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said about Real Madrid’s failed move for Mbappe.

Perez said: “[France president] Macron called Mbappé, it makes no sense.

“PSG offered him to be the leader of the project, it changed everything. I didn’t see same Kylian Mbappé that we wanted.

“Here [at Real Madrid], no one is bigger than Real Madrid. It won’t change.

“It was not easy for Mbappé to receive calls from the president of France… to tell you not to leave the club.

“Then go to Qatar and they offer things that drive you crazy, probably things out of proportion. This is why Kylian has changed.”

Perez always revealed Mbappe’s dream has always been to play for Real Madrid.

He continued: “His dream was to play at Real Madrid, we wanted to do it last August and they didn’t let him leave.

“He kept saying he wanted to play at Madrid and like 15 days before he changed the situation.”