Mauricio Pochettino insists Kylian Mbappe’s future will not be decided by Champions League tie against Real Madrid

Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that Kylian Mbappe’s future will not be decided by Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid, saying that the PSG forward “knows what he wants for his career”. Pochettino’s side will welcome Los Blancos to the Parc de Princes next week before the return leg at the Bernabeu in early March. Despite being team-mates with Lionel Messi and Neymar, Mbappe is their top scorer by some distance this season with 20 goals in all competitions and, as such, he carries their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals on his shoulders.

Ad/> Mbappe has spoken about his ambition of winning the Champions League in the past, calling it his “biggest dream” last summer. PSG have so far been unable to make that dream a reality, losing in the final under Thomas Tuchel in 2020 before going out to Manchester City in the semi-finals last term. Premier LeagueLuis Enrique on Man Utd shortlist but players want Pochettino — reportsYESTERDAY AT 10:28 With the 23-year-old out of contract in the summer and Real Madrid openly chasing his signature, he will come under intense scrutiny when the two sides meet for the first leg next week.

Having won the Champions League and European Cup 13 times in total, Real should have little difficulty convincing Mbappe that they can provide him with European silverware. Speaking to Amazon Prime following PSG’s 5-1 win against Lille last weekend, Mbappe suggested that his future was still up in the air. “No, no, I haven’t made my decision,” he said.

“I think playing against Real Madrid changes a lot of things. “Even if right now I’m free to do what I want, I’m not going to go speak to the opponent or do that kind of thing. I’m concentrated on beating Real