Kylian Mbappe: French sports minister pleads for star to stay in France with PSG

Links persist with Real Madrid and Liverpool among the clubs reportedly interested in signing him this summer

Sudip Kar-Gupta
Friday 19 February 2021 13:36 GMT
Comments
PSG striker Kylian Mbappe
PSG striker Kylian Mbappe (AFP via Getty Images)
Leer en Español

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu has urged Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe to keep playing in France after his Champions League hat-trick this week reignited speculation that he could move abroad.

“Kylian, stay in France, we want to be able to see you continue to play like that,” Maracineanu told France Info radio on Friday.

Mbappe, who won the 2018 World Cup with the French national team while still a teenager, scored a stunning hat-trick as the Qatari-owned PSG thrashed Barcelona 4-1 away in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Mbappe and Haaland could be football’s next great rivalry

The 22-year-old became the first player to net a treble away to Barcelona in Europe’s elite competition since Dynamo Kyiv’s Andriy Shevchenko in November 1997, the year before Mbappe was born.

His performance sparked more speculation that he might eventually leave France’s Ligue 1 for Spain’s LaLiga or England’s Premier League, which are typically considered bigger and more prestigious championships.

Reuters

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in