French President Admits He Spoke To Kylian Mbappe Before PSG Decision

Kylian Mbappe spoke to French president Emmanuel Macron about his future, before deciding to pick Paris Saint-Germain ahead of Real Madrid.

The Mbappe saga finally came to an end two weeks ago. Following nearly a year of contradicting reports, the French forward decided to stay with PSG.

Real had been trying to get him to move to the Bernabeu since last summer, when they made a reported £180 million bid, despite him heading into the final year of his contract in Paris, in order to not miss out on him.

With the Ligue 1 giants unwilling to sell it came down to who was going to be able to persuade him to sign a deal, with neither willing to give up.

As far back as last September, there were claims that the French side were going to get Macron to help persuade the World Cup winner to stay, and it seems that Macron did have a word.

"I have never been involved in any transfer," the En Marche leader said, via Marca.

Mbappe being given the Legion d'Honneur by Macron in 2019. Image: PA Images

"Simply, like any other citizen, when it comes to sporting issues I always want to see a good game and cheer on a team, especially, in my case, Olympique Marseille.

"Yes, it is true that he had a conversation with Kylian Mbappe before he made a firm decision about his future.

"In that talk, I limited myself to advising him, in a totally informal way, to stay in France. I think it is my responsibility, as president, to defend the country when asked in an informal and friendly way."

Mbappe playing for France on Friday. Image: Alamy

Certainly Macron has a point about it being better for the country if Mbappe stays and for the reputation of Ligue 1 in being able to keep the biggest names.

La Liga were certainly annoyed by the 23-year-old's decision not to move to Spain, with the league's president Javier Tebas claiming it was 'an insult to football.'

UEFA aren't exactly keen to listen to his complaints though, saying they wouldn't be told what to do, after La Liga made an official complaint about the French champions.

But what chance did Real really have, when the leader of the country was literally trying to keep Mbappe there. That said if Boris Johnson tried to keep a player in England they'd almost certainly leave.