Qatar Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of French football league champions Paris Saint-Germain, has spoken about the big surprises surrounding his French striker Kylian Mbappe and coach Zinedine Zidane.
And Paris Saint-Germain secured a contract extension for their French striker Kylian Mbappe until the summer of 2025 last month after he was around the corner from a free transfer to Real Madrid.
Al-Khelaifi said during excerpts from his interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, which will be published in full tomorrow, Wednesday: “I turned down an offer of 180 million euros from Real Madrid last summer because I knew that Kylian wanted to stay. in Paris.”
He continued: “I know Mbappe well and I know what he and his family want. They don’t care about money. He chose to play here because it is his city, club and country, and also plays in a sports project.”
Al-Khelaifi also touched on rumors linking Paris Saint-Germain to French manager Zinedine Zidane, as he denied he would become the team’s next manager if the official departure of Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino was announced.
Al-Khelaifi said: “I just want to make it clear that I loved Zidane as a player and manager, but we didn’t talk to him directly or indirectly. We have decided on another option regarding the next coach, who is the best option for us from a tactical point of view.”
And about the European Super League project, which Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are still clinging to, despite the withdrawal of 9 clubs from it in April 2021, Al-Khelaifi said: “This project is forever dead.”
Notably, Nasser Al-Khelaifi refused to join Paris Saint-Germain in the European Super League project and even campaigned with the European Football Association (UEFA) to permanently prevent him from appearing.
Source: agencies