PSG: Mbappe to stay at club next season

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French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Monday insisted that star striker Kylian Mbappe would stay at the club next season, despite the World Cup-winner hinting that he could leave.

The 20-year-old on Sunday bagged both major prizes at the UNFP (French National Professional Football Players Union): the Ligue 1 Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards in the same season.

The French sensation said he wanted more "responsibilities, maybe at PSG, maybe elsewhere" after winning the Ligue 1 player of the season award.

But PSG said in a statement on Twitter: "Strong ties have united PSG and Kylian Mbappe for two years and that story will continue next season.

PSG's French forward Kylian Mbappe (L) delivers a speech after receiving the UNFP Young Player of the Year Prize at the award ceremony in Paris, France, May 19, 2019. /VCG Photo

"It's a highly anticipated moment to also write, together, a big page in the history of our club, in which each major player will have to take his share, all the while working for the squad."

Mbappe's comments on Sunday, with Real Madrid reportedly attempt to lure him to Spain, appeared a calculated move.

"I said what I had to say. When you're on stage you can send messages, I think I got mine across. If I keep talking it would be too much and that's not the message I want to send," Mbappe explained.

Kylian Mbappe (C) of PSG heads the ball during the French Ligue 1 match which PSG had a 4-0 win over Dijon at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, May 18, 2019. /VCG Photo

He has been regularly linked with a potential move to Madrid since breaking through with Monaco's 2017 Ligue 1 title-winning team, but instead made the switch to PSG, initially on loan, and then for 180 million euros.

But since Zinedine Zidane's return to the Real dugout earlier this year, rumors about Mbappe joining his fellow Frenchman at the Santiago Bernabeu have intensified.

French sports daily L'Equipe led with the headline "trophy for the shock sentence" following Mbappe's ambiguous remarks, while Spanish media described it as a "bombshell" after picking up on the fact it was the first time the striker has hinted he could leave Paris.

France's forward Kylian Mbappe kisses the World Cup trophy after winning the FIFA World Cup final in Moscow, Russia, July 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

Under contract with PSG until 2023, Mbappe is said to be in discussions with the club over an extension but was his message a play to strike an improved deal, which reportedly pays him 20 million euros (22 million U.S. dollars) per season.

Mbappe backed up his excellent 2018 World Cup, where he scored four times as France won the trophy, by netting 38 times for PSG this season.

Mbappe became only the second teenager in history last year, after Brazil legend Pele, to score in a World Cup final during France's 4-2 triumph over Croatia.

Source(s): AFP