Qatar Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of French football league champions Paris Saint-Germain, has spoken about the big surprises surrounding his French striker Kylian Mbappe and coach Zinedine Zidane.
And Paris Saint-Germain secured a contract extension for their French striker Kylian Mbappe until the summer of 2025 last month after he was around the corner from a free transfer to Real Madrid.
Al-Khelaifi said during excerpts from his interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, which will be published in full tomorrow, Wednesday: “Last summer I turned down an offer of 180 million euros from Real Madrid because I knew that Kylian wanted to stay. in Paris.”
He continued: “I know Mbappe well and I know what he and his family want. They don’t care about money. He chose to play here because it is his city, club and country, and also plays in a sports project.”
Al-Khelaifi said: “I just want to make it clear that I loved Zidane as a player and manager, but we didn’t talk to him directly or indirectly. We chose a different option for the next manager and that’s the best option.” for us from a tactical point of view.”
Al-Khelaifi also touched on rumors linking Paris Saint-Germain to French manager Zinedine Zidane, as he denied he would be the team’s next manager if Argentine Mauricio Pochettino’s departure was officially announced.
And about the European Super League project, which Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are still clinging to, despite the withdrawal of 9 clubs from it in April 2021, Al-Khelaifi said: “This project is forever dead.”