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Kylian Mbappe told Paris Saint-Germain he wanted to leave in July?
Kylian Mbappe. Sipa Press

Kylian Mbappe told Paris Saint-Germain he wanted to leave in July?

Last month, Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo told French outlet Canal+ he believed star forward Kylian Mbappe would ultimately put pen to paper on a contract extension rather than exit the club next summer for a reported desired move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. 

That currently doesn't look likely. 

According to insider Julien Laurens and ESPN, the 22-year-old has explained to RMC Sport he wanted to leave the Paris club in July. 

"I asked to leave because from the moment I didn't want to extend [my contract], I wanted the club to receive a transfer fee to bring in a quality replacement," Mbappe said. "It's a club that's given me a lot, I've always been happy during the four years I've been here and I still am. I said it early enough so that the club could react.

"I wanted everyone to come out of this stronger, that we leave hand in hand, to make a good deal, and I respected that. I said, if you don't want me to leave, I will stay. People said that I had refused six or seven contract offers and that I no longer wanted to talk to Leonardo, but that's absolutely not true. They told me, 'Kylian now you talk with the president.'" 

While speaking last month, Leonardo refuted reports that Real Madrid offered €200 million ($236 million) in a last attempt to obtain Mbappe before the transfer window closed on Aug. 31. Mbappe has not yet signed any extension with PSG and is free to agree to a pre-contract deal with Real Madrid or any other team on Jan. 1.

"That's not for me to judge, but my position was clear," Mbappe added about Leonardo not selling him this past summer. "I said that I wanted to leave and I said it quite early on. Personally, I did not appreciate the idea that, 'Yes, he came in the final week of August,' because that makes me sound like a thief. I said at the end of July I wanted to leave." 

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