In an interview with Marca tonight, Kylian Mbappe got plenty of ‘clarifications’ on his decision this weekend to re-sign with Paris Saint-Germain. We’ve included the Real Madrid-related stuff below.
By choosing between liverpoolReal Madrid and PSG
“Yes, I am sincere. I spoke to Liverpool because [red] is my mother’s favorite color and my mother loves Liverpool. Why? I don’t know, ask him [Laughs]. We met them a few years ago, when I was in Monaco, it’s a great club… Now we talk to them a little, but not a lot… In the end it was between Real Madrid and PSG . Everyone knows it: last year I wanted to go to Real Madrid. I thought it was a good decision to leave last year, but now it’s different because I’m a free agent, I’m French and I know that I’m important for the country, and when you’re important for the country you have to think not only about football, but also about your life.
After my diploma I will be in France, I will live here with my family and my friends. The only thing I can do is thank all the Real Madrid fans, the whole club, because they gave me all the love they could and it was amazing because I never played there. Only 14, for a week, but they’re an amazing club and I wish them luck in the Champions League final.
Is his dream still to play for Real Madrid?
“I think it’s disrespectful to say that my dream is to play for Real Madrid after signing my contract just a few days ago.
“The dream is good, but today I’m only focused on my new contract, in the present. You never know what can happen… I have a three-year contract, but for now I have to focus on my year at PSG.
During his trip to Madrid with Achraf Hakimi
“It was not a mistake. I was in Madrid because Achraf told me to please, please go to Madrid with him. He would probably do it again. I didn’t go to Madrid for people to talk. I went with Achraf on a private flight, we changed our names and everything so no one would see me and then we went to a restaurant and someone told me. But I didn’t say, ‘Yes, I’m going to Madrid so everyone can see me.’ I went directly, secretly, with my friends and Ashraf paid for the trip so that my name wouldn’t even be on it and no one would see me at the airport. I went to the hotel, I relaxed, then I went to the restaurant and everyone saw me. But that was for Ashraf.
On accusations that his decision was based on money
“I’m a bit sad because since I started playing football I’ve shown everyone that I have the patience to play. I’ve always talked about football, titles, important matches … never money. People can talk about what they want, but everyone knows me. I spoke with everyone at Real Madrid, I spoke with PSG and they know that I never discussed money with the president, with Florentino Pérez or with Nasser Al Khelaifi. My lawyer talked a little about money, as did my mother, but not me. I talk about sports because I talk about the field. My money goes to my account, I watch it a bit but I don’t care. I’m here to win titles, show that I’m the best and be happy. I think right now I’m happy.
“Yes, yes, and I saw several Real Madrid players posting things. These things are like that, I have nothing to say. Of course, when I go to the France team I will explain to Karim why I stayed at PSG because we have good relations.