Former Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has urged the club to sell Kylian Mbappe, stating that it would be in the club’s best interest.
Mbappe, who recently announced that he would not be signing a new contract with PSG, has been at the center of controversy, criticizing the club and creating division among his teammates.
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Leonardo, who served as PSG’s sporting director for three seasons, believes that it is time for Mbappe to move on.
He expressed his opinion in an interview with L’Equipe, stating that PSG existed before Mbappe and will continue to exist after him.
While some fear that selling Mbappe would have a devastating impact on PSG, Leonardo disagrees.
He argues that Mbappe’s time at the club, particularly in European competitions, has not been as successful as expected.
Speaking with L’Equipe, Leonardo said: “For the good of PSG, I think the time has come for Mbappé to leave, whatever happens.
“Paris-Saint-Germain existed before Kylian Mbappé and will exist after him.”
Whilst some have suggested that a sale would devastate PSG – Mbappe’s 212 goals in 260 outings for the club potentially justifying those concerns – Leonardo is of a different opinion.
He has suggested that Mbappe’s time, at least from a European point of view, has been a failure.
“He has been in Paris for six years and, in those six seasons, five different clubs have won the Champions League ( Real Madrid in 2018 and 2022, Liverpool in 2019, Bayern Munich in 2020, Chelsea in 2021 and Manchester City in 2023), none of them which had Mbappé in their ranks,” he added.
“That means it’s totally possible to win this competition without him.
“He is a great player, not a leader. He is a great goalscorer, not a playmaker. It is difficult to build a team around him.”
He believes that Mbappe’s behavior in recent years has shown that he is not yet capable of leading a team on and off the pitch.
Leonardo also suggests that building a team around Mbappe is difficult, as he is primarily a goalscorer rather than a playmaker.
“Due to his behavior in the last two years, Mbappé has shown that he is still not a player capable of really leading a team,” Leonardo said.
There have been speculations about the potential destinations for Mbappe.
Real Madrid is often mentioned as a likely option, but the financial implications, especially after signing Jude Bellingham, could pose a challenge for the Spanish club.
Mbappe has reportedly expressed an interest in joining Arsenal if he were to move to the Premier League, but it is unlikely that the Gunners would be able to afford his transfer.
Liverpool has also been linked with Mbappe, but it is uncertain if they can accommodate his financial demands within their budget for the current transfer window.
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As the situation unfolds, it seems inevitable that Mbappe will leave PSG, with several clubs expressing interest in securing his services.
The outcome will depend on the willingness of potential suitors to meet PSG’s demands and the financial considerations involved in any potential transfer.
