Kylian Mbappé will reportedly leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer when his contract expires. Many expect him to join Real Madrid, but one question that has yet to have an official answer is whether the player will be available for the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Mbappé already has UEFA Euro 2024, but the possibility of winning a gold medal on home soil is an opportunity that doesn’t come around often. Nonetheless, this major question in the 25-year-old’s transfer saga has gone under the radar.
In an interview with PSG Talk, CBS Sports reporter Jonathan Johnson discussed Mbappé’s participation in the Olympics and how odd the situation is since participating seemed important to him.
“I mean, it is quite strange,” Johnson said. “And to be honest, it’s really odd that it took people so long to talk about it because it had clearly been something that was part of Mbappé’s thinking way back when he signed the contract extension and rejected joining Real at the time. And I think initially, he made it kind of like a deal breaker with Real Madrid.
“Now there’s maybe more of a sense that if it’s the only way to sort of make sure that that move happens, you probably accept not being able to go to the Olympics. I mean, the same might apply to someone like Lenny Yoro, who normally would have been kind of nailed on to be part of that Olympic squad.”
As the summer months near, an answer will be needed, and Real Madrid could also step their foot down on the issue. Nonetheless, these next few months will be interesting to follow to see if this is an issue the Frenchman is willing to give up.
