Paris Saint-Germain Held By Lorient In Season Opener With Kylian Mbappe Sidelined

13.08.2023 - 05:33 sports.ndtv.com

Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their title defence with a 0-0 draw at home to Lorient on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe watched from the stands amid his ongoing contract dispute with the French champions.

After a summer of flux at the Parc des Princes filled with new arrivals and Lionel Messi's departure, it is the Mbappe stand-off that continues to dominate the headlines.

The France captain has refused to sign an extension to his PSG deal, meaning he can leave for free next year, with Real Madrid long seen as his preferred destination.

PSG want to sell him now and bring in a significant transfer fee for a player who cost 180 million euros ($198 million) from Monaco in 2017.

Football Lionel Messi Lucas Hernandez Kylian Mbappe Marco Verratti Marco Asensio Ousmane Dembele Luis Enrique Milan Skriniar Paris Saint-Germain France Brazil Monaco

Neymar was "in negotiations" on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions. A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar "no longer figures in the club or manager's plans" with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom. Another source in Saudi Arabia said that "direct negotiations" between Neymar's agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.

Neymar 'probably leaving' Paris Saint-Germain: Source

PARIS: Neymar is "probably leaving" Paris Saint-Germain, with an offer from Saudi Arabia said to be on the table, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Sunday (Aug 13).

Kylian Mbappe returns to PSG training after 'constructive and positive talks' with club

Kylian Mbappe has returned to training with the Paris Saint-Germain first team after “very constructive and positive discussions” with the club.

Neymar 'Probably Leaving' Paris Saint-Germain For This Saudi Club: Report

Neymar is "probably leaving" Paris Saint-Germain, with an offer from Saudi Arabia said to be on the table, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Sunday. The Brazil international joined the French champions for 220 million euros ($241m) from Barcelona in 2017. But the 31-year-old forward was missing from PSG's season-opener on Saturday, and "no longer figures in the club or manager's plans", the source stated. Reports have emerged that Al Hilal are currently negotiating a deal to sign the former Barcelona forward.

PSG's U-Turn On Kylian Mbappe Decision, Striker Re-Included In First-Team Squad

French club Paris Saint-Germain, which has been in the news over the contract deadlock with striker Kylian Mbappe, decided to re-include the superstar in their first-team squad. Mbappe, who had refused to renew his contract and has already announced his intention to leave the club for free at the end of the 2023-24 season, was left out ove the dispute However, after 'constructive talks', Mbappe was integrated in the first-time once again by the Ligue 1 champions.

PSG Sign Ousmane Dembele Amid Kylian Mbappe's Contract Saga

As Kylian Mbappe's contract dispute with Paris Saint-Germain rumbles on, the Qatari-backed club announced a new signing - Ousmane Dembele on a five-year-deal from Barcelona. He is the ninth summer arrival at a side which has lost Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, and may soon be facing up to life without Mbappe. In an affair that has dominated transfer market headlines Mbappe has refused to sign an extension to his PSG deal, meaning he can leave for free next year, with Real Madrid long seen as his preferred destination.