Kylian Mbappe personally called Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to inform him about his decision to remain at Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe seemed to be on the cusp of a move to Real before agreeing to stay at the Parc des Princes over the weekend.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday regarding his new three-year contract at PSG, Mbappe said: “I have a lot of respect for Real Madrid and Florentino Perez.
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“They did everything for me and tried to make me very happy, that’s why I had to call him personally, we’ve got a close relationship.
“I just decided for myself and I made the best decision.”
It has been highly publicised that playing for Madrid was Mbappe’s childhood dream, and the Frenchman did not rule out making the move at a later stage in his career.
“I am really focused on this new contract, what will happen in the future, I don’t know,” he said.
When asked whether he had a message for Real’s fans, Mbappe added: “I want to say thank you, as they always accepted me as one of them.
“I understand their disappointment, and I hope they understand my decision to stay in my country.”
Mbappe’s contract with PSG had been due to expire in June, and The Athletic reported last Monday that he had agreed personal terms with Madrid ahead of a potential free transfer.
The France international, however, shocked the footballing world when it was announced that he had extended his stay at PSG until 2025 on Saturday.
It ended a long-running transfer saga, which began last summer when Real made two bids for the forward. Both of those were rejected, despite Mbappe later confirming he had asked to leave PSG.
Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 when he was still a teenager.
He has already scored 171 goals in just 217 appearances for PSG and won three consecutive player of the season awards, topping the Ligue 1 scoring charts in each of the last four seasons.
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How has Mbappe’s decision impacted Real?
For Perez, this is a heavy sporting and political blow.
Madrid hoped to announce the transfer as a feel-good boost before this weekend’s Champions League final against Liverpool and nobody can underestimate Mbappe’s quality — this is a 23-year-old who has already won the World Cup with France.
He has scored 224 goals and recorded 124 assists in 331 career appearances for Monaco, PSG and France.
His value on the field to Madrid was clear as the club seek to re-energise their squad in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era.
(Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)