Paris Saint-Germain give contract ultimatum to Kylian Mbappe

The latest saga involving Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe experienced a new twist on Wednesday. 

According to Reuters (h/t ESPN), Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said during an event to introduce Luis Enrique as the club's next manager that Mbappe must sign a new contract to remain with the Parisians for the upcoming season. 

Mbappe informed Paris Saint-Germain via a letter last month he won't exercise an option for an additional year attached to his contract that is set to expire following the 2023-24 campaign. The 24-year-old World Cup winner later insisted he wants to spend at least another season with Paris Saint-Germain rather than move to Real Madrid this summer, but Al-Khelaifi made it known Wednesday he has no intentions of possibly losing Mbappe for free next year. 

"My position is very clear," Al-Khelaifi explained. "I don't want to repeat it every time: if Kylian wants to stay, we want him to stay. But he needs to sign a new contract. We don't want to lose the best player in the world for free -- we can't do that. This is a French club. He said he would never leave for free. If he changes his mind today, it's not my fault. We don't want to lose the best player in the world for free, that's very clear."

ESPN recently ranked Mbappe as the top forward in the world. Lionel Messi, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami on a free transfer, is ranked third on the ESPN list. 

Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol is among those who believe Real Madrid could make a significant move for Mbappe later this summer. 

"They know (Mbappe) wants to go to Real Madrid - he's looking to run down his contract and leave for Madrid on a free transfer, meaning PSG would get nothing," Solhekol said about Paris Saint-Germain. 

It was widely thought Mbappe would join Real Madrid last summer before he signed an improved contract with Paris Saint-Germain in May 2022.