Paris Saint-Germain Dismisses Transfer Talks Of Star Forward To Real Madrid

KEY POINTS

Leonardo is determined to keep Kylian Mbappe and Neymar
Leonardo says Mbappe is the future of PSG
Mbappe was hailed as Ligue 1's top scorer this season

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo Araújo has denied claims linking Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid. As the transfer talks spur overwhelming anticipation from the Spanish capital supporters, Leonardo came out to temper the expectations as he insisted that the 21-year-old star remains the future of PSG.

The 50-year-old executive set the record straight as he stressed that he intends to keep Mbappe, as well as Neymar, who is also being rumored to return to Barcelona.

“They still have two years of contract and we are already looking to the future. We want to move forward, nothing tells us that they are not here next season,” Leonardo told Journal du Dimanche, via Mundo Deportivo.

“Neymar and Mbappé are 28 and 21 years old and they are here. There is not much to ponder. We are lucky to have them because it is something huge. Then we have to find the solution to continue the adventure together.”

Between the two, however, it appears that Mbappe is the one more likely to stay at the Ligue 1 giant, especially that Neymar has expressed his desire to reunite with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Camp Nou.

“While Neymar is being closely linked with a return to Camp Nou after the Brazilian publically stated his desire to reunite with former teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, it is Mbappe that the French side are most adamant to keep,” Nishant Narayanan of Everything Barca wrote.

Leonardo has declared that the French youngster is already being shaped to become the club’s cornerstone in the years to come. And the first step to achieving the plan, according to him, is to lure the 2018 World Cup winner to sign an extension of his contract, which is set to expire in 2022.

“(Mbappe) is the future of PSG. He is what everyone wants. The ideal scenario would be to renew his contract,” Leonardo said.

Mbappe’s brilliant showing this season was second to none as he was hailed as Ligue 1’s top scorer by virtue of 18 goals in 20 appearances to lead PSG to their ninth league title.