Will he stay or will he go? Mbappe's future at Paris Saint-Germain in doubt

 AFP Sport looks at all the options on the table after the France superstar said he would not activate a clause to extend his current deal with PSG until 2025, meaning he will be a free agent next year.

The 24-year-old surprised everyone when he decided in May last year to sign a new deal with PSG, just a few days before his previous contract expired.

PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi announced the news, on the Parc des Princes pitch prior to the team's final match of the 2021/22 season, while the player posed with a shirt carrying "Mbappe 2025" on the back.

At the time, the club communicated that Mbappe had signed a three-year extension, but in reality it was a two-year contract (until 2024, therefore) with the option of a third year that the player himself could choose to activate, or not.

Mbappe said in a letter to the club on Monday that he would not activate that option.

That Mbappe has made that decision in advance of a fixed July 31 deadline to do so could be interpreted as a definitive decision, and that he will not change his mind again.

However, it could also be seen as part of a power struggle with Mbappe seeking to obtain new guarantees about the team PSG will field next season, and perhaps more money.

On Monday night, PSG management made clear their anger after the letter Mbappe had just sent them was leaked in the press. The club immediately put out a message to say they would not be manipulated by a player, even their biggest and most valuable star.

The club's position appears to be that they will not allow Mbappe to leave for free in 2024, which will be the case if he stays one more year without agreeing a new deal. 

That means the only options are to negotiate new terms or sell to the highest bidder in