Pochettino sends Mbappe a strong message over PSG contract

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 13:09 BST
• 3 min read

Kylian Mbappe has been sent a new message by Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino underlining how important the forward is to the club.

Mbappe’s contract with PSG is up in 2022 and he is vulnerable to being sold if he does not sign a fresh agreement before the summer.

Real Madrid and Liverpool are considered to be the leading candidates for his signature.

Pochettino, though, has indicated once again that he would love Mbappe to remain at the club.

“Kylian is a very important player for the team, one of our most important,” Pochettino says. “We hope that he will remain here for many more years.

“All processes take time. We hope that he’ll stay a long time in Paris. It would be good for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Pochettino was tight lipped on his thoughts towards Mbappe’s future.

“I don’t like to bet on any subject,” he indicated. “It’s a decision between the two parties, between the club and him.

“For the club, it’s clear that we are counting on Kylian. Personally, I also count on him a lot.”

PSG have several players whose contracts expire over the course of the next two years, including Neymar, although it is expected that the Brazilian will commit himself to new terms with the club.

In addition, Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler and Juan Bernat are the other prominent members of the first-team squad whose deals are up in the summer. Bernat is being monitored by Barcelona, having spent much of the season injured.

Beyond Neymar, though, it is Mbappe who PSG want to tie down on a long-term basis and the manner in which Pochettino’s side finish the season may have a large part to play in the decision he takes.

When do the contracts of Mbappe, Neymar and PSG’s stars expire?