Kylian Mbappe’s decision to stay at Paris Saint-Germain has drawn widespread praise in the French league, including from coaches whose teams will face the prolific striker next season.
Mbappe ended months of speculation when he signed a new three-year deal with the capital club on Saturday.
Once again, the striker rejected the siren songs of Real Madrid. The Spanish giant could not get hold of the services of the player in 2017, who jumped from Monaco to PSG in an operation for 180 million euros (190 million dollars).
PSG rejected the same offer last year for Mbappé, who had just one season left on his old contract.
Mbappe said on Twitter on Sunday that he is convinced he can “continue to grow” at PSG. But the star of the 2018 world champion France team said he was honored by the interest Real Madrid had shown in him.
“I understand the luck and privilege of being coveted by an institution of that level,” Mbappé wrote. “I will be the first to support them in the Champions League final (Saturday against Liverpool) in Paris. At home”.
Nantes coach Antoine Kombouaré, a former PSG manager, was disappointed that Mbappé will not leave Ligue 1.
“It would have been sad to see him go,” Kombouaré said. “It is excellent that he is in the French league. It would have been a serious setback for us if he had left. It is important for French football.”