PSG president confident Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi will stay at club
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is confident that his club will be able to keep hold of both Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
The two players starred for their respective countries at the 2022 World Cup, with the pair also playing huge roles in what was a spectacular final between France and Argentina.
Mbappe scored three times for the Blues, while Messi netted twice, with the two teams finishing level at 3-3 after extra-time, before Argentina won the trophy on penalties.
Messi scored seven goals at the competition, while Mbappe took the Golden Boot with eight goals during a spectacular tournament for the 23-year-old.
Mbappe has a contract at PSG until June 2025, having penned a new deal earlier this summer despite it being widely thought that he would move to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Messi, though, only has a deal with the French champions until next June, and there is currently widespread speculation surrounding his future.
Al-Khelaifi said “of course” when asked whether PSG would keep both Mbappe and Messi, with the club set to sit down with the latter to discuss a new deal in the near future.
“Will we keep Messi and Mbappe? Of course. They are the two best players in the World Cup. I don’t want to say anything more about Leo, we have an agreement to talk after the World Cup,” he told reporters.
“Most importantly, as a club, PSG have broken all records. We are proud of them and also of Achraf [Hakimi], who finished fourth with Morocco.
“I am very proud of the organisation of the tournament, we have shown that Qatar can host the best competition in the world, we have shown everyone that we can do it.
“In my opinion, it was the best final in the history of the World Cups. I am sad for France, as the president of a French club. Sad for Kylian, who played a more than perfect game.
“If it had been me, I would have given two trophies, one for Kylian and one for Leo. It was difficult for me because I was going with France. But I’m also happy for Messi, it is the icing on the cake for him, he deserves it, and Kylian still has years to go to win the World Cup again.”
Mbappe has scored 19 goals and registered five assists in 20 appearances for PSG this season.
Messi, meanwhile, has netted 12 goals and provided 14 assists in 19 outings for Christophe Galtier’s side during the 2022-23 campaign.
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