PARIS: Kylian Mbappe said he was "very happy" to stay at Paris Saint-Germain after the club's president announced on Saturday (May 21) the World Cup winner was rejecting Real Madrid to remain in France until 2025.
"I am very happy to stay in France, in Paris, in my city," Mbappe told supporters on the Parc des Princes pitch before PSG faced Metz in their final Ligue 1 match of the season.
Standing next to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Mbappe said: "I hope I'm going to be able to continue to do what I like most - winning football matches and trophies with all of you."
Mbappe marked his announcement by scoring twice in five minutes to take his total of league goals for the season to 27, putting him on course to finish as Ligue 1's leading scorer for a fourth consecutive season.
Mbappe's decision ends months of speculation surrounding arguably the hottest property in world football.
Real Madrid had pursued Mbappe for months and had reportedly agreed a deal with him months ago for a switch to Spain which would have included a signing-on fee of 150 million euros (US$158 million).
Mbappe had made no secret of his desire to play one day for Real, who will face Liverpool in the Champions League final in Paris next weekend after securing a 35th Spanish title.
But PSG, who have won the Ligue 1 title for a record-equalling tenth time but angered their hardcore supporters with their limp exit to Real in the last 16 of the Champions League, have battled to hold on to their biggest asset.
The president of Spain's La Liga, Javier Tebas, complained bitterly on Saturday that the massive financial resources of PSG's Qatari owners had proved decisive in persuading Mbappe to stay in France.
"What PSG is doing by renewing Mbappe with large sums
Read more on channelnewsasia.com
channelnewsasia.com
