'He was supposed to be sold' - Ex-PSG sporting director urged club to accept Real Madrid offer for Kylian Mbappe in 2021 and was 'against' contract extension

World Cup winner Mbappe, who had been linked with the Blancos for some time, had just one year remaining on his contract at that point. La Liga heavyweights were prepared to spend big on making the France international another ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu.

They eventually got their man in 2024, but only after Paris Saint-Germain had put another lucrative contract in place with Mbappe. He did become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer before bidding farewell, but ended up walking away as a free agent.

Leonardo believes poor sporting and financial decisions were made at Parc des Princes prior to his departure in 2022, with the Brazilian telling Le Figaro of why he would have sanctioned a sale over agreeing fresh terms: “I was against it, at the level that was done. Always. From the beginning. I even think he was supposed to be sold at the end of the 2020-2021 season, when PSG had an offer from Real Madrid and he only had one year left on his contract.”

Leonardo added on Mbappe forcing PSG into tabling an eye-watering contract offer, before ultimately leaving for nothing: “How is it manageable afterwards? If you lose a player, it's annoying, but the club is not going to die. What great institution has collapsed by losing a player? None. It may take time, but you always get back up. I was a player, but no element can ever be more important than a club.”

Mbappe registered 256 goals for PSG across seven seasons, but was unable to secure them an elusive Champions League crown. He is now chasing down European glory alongside the likes of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham in Spain.