A few minutes after the press conference which formalized his extension to PSG until June 2025, Kylian Mbappé received several representatives of the written press in a lounge at the Parc des Princes. All for eight minutes, in order to detail a little more the reasons for his choice.
In 2024, there are the Olympic Games in Paris. Are you guaranteed to compete for them thanks to this new contract?
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ. Insured, no. You will have to be selected. But that’s one of the things we talked about. The club is not against it. He is for. There were no problems during the negotiations.
How much influence will you have on the athlete at PSG, in recruitment, the organization chart?
You have to know how to trust people. It’s already starting off on the wrong foot in the project if your star player puts pressure on the sporting director. Everyone must stay in their place. If the club recruits a new sporting director, it is because he is competent. It will be necessary to give him time before putting Kylian Mbappé in his paws. I am a soccer player. Afterwards, if he wants to talk, I can talk about football for hours. Like with you or anyone. But I won’t influence recruiting or sales, that’s not my job. I’m not good at this. Where I’m good is on the pitch.
Have you spoken with Karim Benzema about this choice?
We didn’t trade. I didn’t want to overdo it. I know everyone was talking about Karim and Kylian, Kylian and Karim… But in selection, we only talked about the evening meal. We weren’t talking about Real Madrid. I didn’t want to force this stuff. When we meet, we’ll discuss it. He will ask me why and I will explain this choice to him.