Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has reacted to reports of a $55.6M (€50M) salary proposal for Kylian Mbappé and a purported move for former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane amid claims of an imminent exit for Mauricio Pochettino. The Brazilian has denied both claims, citing that talks are still ongoing to tie the former to a new deal whereas the latter has never been in any conversation with the club not looking to change managers.
A big summer lies ahead for Paris Saint-Germain with the club still oblivious to Mbappe's decision. The young French attacker is out of contract this summer and has been heavily linked with a dream move to Real Madrid in June. Although the player has revealed that no decision has been made yet, there is growing skepticism surrounding his commitment to the current Ligue 1 leaders.
Recent reports gave fans of PSG a glimmer of hope with news breaking out in France that the club was preparing a bumper deal for their golden boy. According to Le Parisien, they were not willing to give up in the quest to tie down Mbappe for a few more years and had readied a proposal that would see the ex-Monaco man earn $55.6M per year. A bonus of $111.1M (€100M) was also supposedly going to be added on top for the forward for signing the extension, and would run until 2024.
However, the claims have now been rebuffed by Leonard, who insists that the amount that would be paid to Mbappe will be the last thing to be discussed on the extension offer. In an interview with L'Équipé, he said: "Chances of Mbappe staying? I can't say, but we have a possibility. As long as there is no signature, we will try everything, we will do everything to keep him."
On the subject of the supposed bumper deal in the pipeline, he added: "We want to put Kylian in the best conditions to become the best player possible". "The last thing we will put on Mbappé's contract will be the salary amount."
Leonard, who became PSG's sporting director in 2019, also responded to the rumors surrounding his club's managerial post. With the French club in pole position to secure the Ligue 1 and closing in on the Champions League quarter-finals, he stated that there was no need replacing Mauricio Pochettino with Zinedine Zidane despite what is being widely speculated.
"We've never thought about changing our manage," he said. We've never contacted Zidane or anyone. "I can say that Mauricio Pochettino has never asked to leave. I have no problem with him. We talk about everything".
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United with Ajax's Erik ten Haag also believed to be on the Red Devils' shortlist. In the event of a potential return to the Premier League, it has been widely suggest that Zidane will take over the reins at Paris Saint-Germain.
