Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists his team is not readying a move for Kylian Mbappe after the forward raised questions over his Paris Saint-Germain future.
Mbappe is under contract at the Parc des Princes until 2024, with the option to extend the deal by another year. A reported reluctance to commit to that extension has prompted suggestions of renewed Real Madrid interest, but City don’t appear set to join them.
Madrid are looking for attacking reinforcements following the departure of Karim Benzema for Al-Ittihad, and they have been keen on Mbappe in the past. City, however, appear comfortable with Erling Haaland leading the line and the likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden supporting from out wide.
In a video clip shared by Sky Sports, Guardiola replies “no” when asked if City are bidding for Mbappe. He was then pushed further on the reasons for the decision, and asked whether he expected the France international to join Real Madrid, but didn’t divulge much more information, saying “I have no idea. You know more about it than I do.”
When asked whether Mbappe was a player he would like at City, Guardiola again gave a straightforward answer. “You know which team he wants to go to,” the Catalan said.
Amid the latest rumours, Mbappe has continued to deliver on the pitch. He scored the only goal of the game on Monday, converting a penalty to give France a 1-0 European Championships victory over Greece.
There could still be movement between City and PSG this summer, but in the opposite direction. Sky Sports notes that Bernardo Silva, a team-mate of Mbappe as Monaco when they eliminated City from the 2016-17 Champions League, may be offered an escape route by the Parisian club.
Portugal international Bernardo has been keen to move on, and has been suggested that the treble winners won’t stand in his way if a suitable exit plan is on the table. The 28-year-old has been courted by Barcelona for some time, but the LaLiga side’s financial issues could open the door for PSG.
Bernardo is said to have been keen on a move last summer, when Barcelona was a destination, but stayed in Manchester to play his part in the treble success. Amid City’s celebrations, team-mate Grealish was seen begging his colleague to stay.
City are also preparing for the potential loss of Kyle Walker, with Bayern Munich among the clubs interested in the City defender. Walker and Bernardo moved to the Etihad Stadium in the same summer 2017 window, winning the league with 100 points in their first season with the club, and both featured in the 2023 Champions League final.
