Paris Saint-Germain icon Jerome Rothen has told Kylian Mbappe he has no chance of leaving the club in the January transfer window.
The France international, 23, reportedly wants to quit PSG at the earliest possible opportunity amid rumours he's fallen out with the club's hierarchy. Mbappe only signed a new three-year contract with the Ligue 1 champions in May after months of speculation.
Real Madrid were seriously interested in signing Mbappe, who has admitted he was torn between joining the Spanish giants and extending his stay in Paris. Premier League hopefuls Liverpool also held talks with the World Cup winner's representatives.
Rumours of Mbappe's desire to leave PSG emerged just hours before Christophe Galtier's side faced Portuguese outfit Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The game at the Parc des Princes finished 1-1, with Mbappe scoring a penalty for the hosts.
Speaking to RMC Sport, Rothen launched a scathing attack at Mbappe for allegedly seeking a transfer. Rothen, who won 13 senior caps and the 2003 Confederations Cup with France, made 180 appearances for boyhood club PSG between 2004 and 2010.
"I think it's put huge pressure on the club," said Rothen, as quoted by GOAL. "The huge pressure was already there with his attitude, and he doesn't hide it. Criticism is flying around and yet he continues to sulk. That's the problem that must be really deep-rooted."
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Rothen went on to rubbish the idea of Mbappe leaving PSG in January, although he accepted a transfer could happen next summer. "Despite the millions they gave him, this discontent is real," added Rothen. "There are many things at the club that he dislikes.
"He does not see a positive outcome to this so he puts more pressure on by leaking things, saying, 'beware, I signed for two years, plus a year but next year...' I'm not talking about the winter transfer period because that's bulls***. He knows that it will never happen.
"The club will never let him go in the winter. On the other hand, next year, in June... ."
PSG's football advisor Luis Campos and manager Galtier have dismissed reports suggesting Mbappe wants to leave. As quoted by GOAL, Campos told Canal+ before Tuesday evening's game: "I am here to clearly deny, he did not speak to me or to my president about leaving in January. This question never came up and we never talked about it.
"There are rumours every day, and we can't talk about them every day. But this one, it is serious. Because my name is there. An impact on the locker room? No, they are experienced players. It's not real news anyway, and it's not going to disrupt the group."
As quoted by Get French Football News, Galtier told RMC Sport after the match: "A lot was said about him this afternoon. I haven’t spoken about it with him, the objective is to remain concentrated on the match. He gave a lot tonight, he showed he was a great player, that he was concentrated on the match and the competition."
