The future of Kylian Mbappe is still yet to be resolved, but Paris Saint Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino has finally broken his silence with a captaincy gesture.
Mbappe is out of contract at the end of the season, and after turning down a world-record bid from Real Madrid in the summer, PSG face losing the man that cost them £141million for nothing. The French giants have offered him a record contract to re-sign at the Parc Des Princes, but their offer has so far been snubbed.
The Frenchman is one of the most desired talents in world football, and after single-handedly taking on Madrid in the Champions League last-16, his value to PSG was highlighted even further. And Pochettino has now broken his silence, with a call to make him captain.
PSG may have Neymar and Lionel Messi in their ranks, but Mbappe is without a doubt their most valuable player, which is why they're desperate to re-sign him. But their efforts have so far proved to be unsuccessful, and time is quickly running out to come up with a solution.
Until now, Pochettino has remained rather tight-lipped on the contract saga, but with time running out the Argentine has given his views on the situation. Pochettino said: "We want the best for Kylian Mbappe for him and for the club - and the best for Paris Saint-Germain is that Kylian stays, it’s also the best for Kylian."
Mbappe is second behind Wissam Ben Yedder in the race for the Lique 1 golden boot, and PSG travel to Clermont on Saturday as they move closer to securing yet another league title. And with potentially just eight league games left in his PSG career, Pochettino is doing all that he can to convince Mbappe to stay.
"I’m considering him as potential captain for tomorrow," Pochettino revealed. Mbappe has been in the form of his life for PSG, and after scoring both home and away against Madrid in their Champions League defeat, he's continued to dismantle defenders in domestic competitions.
Mbappe produced one of the finest displays of the season last weekend as PSG beat Lorient 5-1, as the Frenchman scored twice and assisted the other three. Neymar and Messi also found the net, but they had Mbappe to thank.
PSG are almost nailed on to win Ligue 1 each year with the incredible squad that they boast, but in Europe they continue to suffer, and that's perhaps why Mbappe is considering his future. The French giants continue to fail in the Champions League, but their most recent disaster was one of their most brutal exits.
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The French side led Madrid 2-0 on aggregate as the game entered the final 30 minutes, but a complete capitulation saw Karim Benzema score a late hat-trick to send Los Blancos through. And the French striker has used his treble as a springboard, netting another three against Chelsea in the quarter-final first leg.
The manner of the Champions League exit has caused a stir in Paris, with Pochettino expected to be sacked by PSG, but with Erik ten Hag likely to be appointed as Manchester United manager, the Argentine may be trying to get himself back in the good books. Pochettino was in the running to be handed the United job, but the role looks set to be given to Ten Hag.
Without another appealing job lined up, Pochettino may feel as though he can be given another chance if he can convince Mbappe to stay, and giving him the armband is a clear last resort. But with his contract up in just a matter of months, PSG are playing a dangerous game, with Madrid one of the sides ready to pounce.
