As the clock ticks towards a crucial summer for Kylian Mbappe's future at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), French President Emmanuel Macron may reprise his unusual role as mediator for the benefit of the club and the country at large.
In an interaction with Radio Monte Carlo Sport (RMC Sport), Macron was quizzed about his knowledge of Mbappe's career plans. His reply, translated from French, was brief but telling, "I do not have the scoop, but I will try and push [for him to stay]."
This isn't the first time Macron has involved himself in keeping Mbappe in the ranks of PSG, the French Ligue 1 team. It was a challenging endeavor, but Macron's intervention evidently influenced the striker's decision to stay put.
Reflecting on his earlier involvement in June 2022, Macron said, "I had a discussion with Kylian Mbappe upstream, simply to advise him to stay in France. When he is approached informally and in a friendly way, that is the role of a president-to defend his country."
The tactic to ward off a high-profile player's transfer was indeed novel. Mbappe himself acknowledged two months before Macron's June 2022 comments, that they had conversed, stating that "he (Macron) wanted me to stay, that's part of the negotiations."
A year back, Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid had reportedly dangled a staggering €200 million ($215.88 million) offer to PSG to secure Mbappe, but the player rebuffed the move, citing Macron's interference.
However, the strained relationship between Mbappe and Les Parisiens has prompted Real Madrid to ready a similar bid for the French international.
Until recently, Mbappe seemed off the market due to a whopping €90 million ($96.6 million) loyalty bonus if he stayed with his present Ligue 1 club.
However, the landscape has changed dramatically for PSG, following Lionel Messi's unexpected transfer to MLS club Inter Miami and the mounting dissatisfaction among fans towards Neymar Jr., who was rumoured to be eyeing an English Premier League move in May. These factors could tip Mbappe towards an exit.
While the domestic transfer window is currently open, the international transfer window doesn't kick-off until July 1. This gives Mbappe, Macron, and Paris Saint-Germain a precious few weeks to potentially reach a resolution.
