Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has decided to reinstate Kylian Mbappé into the first-team squad after the French forward was frozen out during the club's preseason tour of Japan. Mbappé, 24, had been training separately from the main squad while his transfer saga continued to unfold.
The decision to bring Mbappé back into the team comes after "very constructive, positive talks" between the player and PSG, the club said in a statement. This development comes after the controversial incident where Mbappé watched from the stands as PSG played out a goalless draw against Lorient in their first league game of the season.
Despite making public declarations about his desire to stay in Paris for the upcoming season, Mbappé had reportedly expressed his unhappiness at the club behind the scenes. In June, several reports suggested that the Frenchman had informed PSG that he would not be extending his contract, which prompted PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to state that the club would not allow him to leave for free. Subsequently, PSG issued an ultimatum to Mbappé, requiring him to either sign a new contract or be sold.
In the midst of this ongoing situation, Mbappé had also turned down a potential lucrative move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. It was reported that the club was prepared to break the world record transfer fee by offering €300 million ($332 million) for the striker, along with a lucrative €775 million salary package. However, Mbappé rejected the offer, leaving his future uncertain.
Throughout the summer, Mbappé's possible transfer to Real Madrid has remained a constant rumor. The player had come close to joining the Spanish giants last year but eventually opted to extend his contract with PSG instead.
As of now, it is unclear whether Mbappé will ultimately sign a new deal with PSG. The club has not provided any further comments on the matter. However, this recent reinstatement into the first-team squad suggests that there may still be a chance for Mbappé to continue his career with PSG, at least for the time being.