Mbappe informs the Paris administration of his decision

Kylian Mbappé informs Paris Saint-Germain of his intention to leave at the end of the season

Paris, February 15, 2024

Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé has informed the club of his intention to leave at the end of the season, according to a source close to the club.

Mbappé, 25, who joined the capital club in 2017 from Monaco, extended his contract in 2022 until 2024 but refused last summer to activate a clause that would have allowed him to stay another year at the Parc des Princes.

The same source revealed that "the terms of the departure still have to be fully agreed upon," and the club and Mbappé will officially announce the matter "when everything is finalized in the coming months."

The Parisian club declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

Mbappé will leave PSG as a free agent, although the two parties negotiated last summer an agreement in which the player would give up part of his signing bonus mentioned in his contract, worth "tens" of millions of dollars.

After seven seasons with PSG, Mbappé, who has become the capital club's all-time leading scorer, is looking for a new adventure, which is likely to be with Real Madrid of Spain.

According to an informed source, Mbappé and the royal club have previously entered into negotiations in 2019 and 2021, and even in 2022, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez tried to sign him, but his attempt was met with refusal.

In the summer of 2022, it was announced that Mbappé had agreed to move to Real Madrid by many media outlets... before he extended his contract with the capital club for two years.

In 2023, it was also announced that the deal was done, with some French media claiming that Mbappé wanted to join the Madrid club immediately. He responded with "Lies..." in large letters on Twitter at the time.

For PSG, the departure of their star player, after only a year after the departure of Brazilian Neymar to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Argentine Lionel Messi to Inter Miami of the United States, means the start of a new era for the club, which has always aspired to win the Champions League title but has not succeeded since it was acquired by Qatar in 2011.

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LEBRON JAMES DELETED AFTER VIOLENT ALTERCATION

 The atmosphere was electric Sunday night in Detroit, Michigan. LeBron James' Lakers defeated the Pistons (116-121) but the star was sent off for a big foul on Isaiah Stewart, who lost his nerves.

Nine minutes from the end of the third quarter, while the Pistons extended their advantage to 12 points on a free throw, LeBron James brutally turned around, nudging Isaiah Stewart, marking him.

The 20-year-old interior, who suffered a cut above his right eye (five stitches), has repeatedly tried to get revenge on "King James". This led to a melee of players from both teams, with several staff and security members also joining the fight.

LEBRON JAMES "ISN'T A DIRTY TYPE"

Isaiah Stewart and LeBron James were kicked out after video viewing. Other Angelinos are at risk of being sentenced. Lakers point guard Russel Westbrook, particularly fierce in the scuffle, is not immune from retroactive sanction and has already suffered a technical foul.

This is also the case of Anthony Davis, his team's top scorer with 30 points, who defended his teammate, excluded for the second time in his career, after a meeting where the Lakers remade their delay in the last quarter.

“Everyone in the league knows that (James) is not a bad guy. As soon as he touched it, he turned around and said, "It's my fault. It wasn't on purpose." I don't know what (Stewart) was trying to do, ”he said.

For Lakers coach Frank Vogel, “Our guys did a good job protecting our teammate. You want peacekeepers in these situations. Form a wall around a teammate and get up before it gets uglier, ”he said.

BAYERN MUNICH: THE GERMAN CLUB WILL LOWER THE SALARY OF NON-VACCINATED PLAYERS PLACED IN QUARANTINE

 A radical decision. Bayern Munich have decided to lower the salaries of players not vaccinated against Covid-19 and placed in quarantine, according to reports from the German weekly Bild am Sonntag.

The move comes as Joshua Kimmich was placed in solitary confinement for a second time on Friday after coming into contact with those infected. The Germany international was released from quarantine on Tuesday after coming into contact with teammate Niklas Süle, who tested positive last week.

The case of Kimmich, who had announced not to be vaccinated for "personal reasons", had sparked a heated debate in Germany, which is currently facing a new wave of positive cases and while the percentage of people vaccinated is less than 70%.

But Joshua Kimmich would not be the only one affected by this measure introduced by Bayern Munich. Four of his teammates have reportedly received zero doses of the vaccine and would see their wages cut if they were to be placed in solitary confinement. They are said to be German internationals Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala, former PSG striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and French OM player Michael Cuisance, according to Bild.

F1: WINNER IN QATAR, LEWIS HAMILTON

 Lewis Hamilton continues to fall behind. A week after his victory in Brazil, the British driver did it again this Sunday at the Grand Prix of Qatar to further reduce the gap at the top of the world championship with Max Verstappen, 2nd and who has only 8 points left. advance to two races from the end of the season.

Lewis Hamilton will not give up in the title race. And he proved it again at the Losail circuit, the scene of the first Qatar Grand Prix in history. Starting from pole position, the Briton gave a real demonstration to clinch his 7th victory of the season, 102nd in his career, after 57 laps of a race he mastered from start to finish. Only Pierre Gasly came to titillate the seven-time world champion at the start without being able to overtake him.

The Mercedes driver then quickly distanced himself and was not disturbed by the comeback of Max Verstappen. Downgraded to 7th place on the starting grid after being penalized for not respecting a yellow flag in qualifying, the Dutchman gained three places from the first corner before defeating Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso ( 3rd at the finish), who scored his first podium in F1 since 2014. Unable to threaten Hamilton afterwards, he nevertheless limited the damage with this 2nd position and the fastest lap point.

"We started very well, we quickly returned to 2nd position and in the end, to have this fastest lap, it's very good", commented on arrival the Red Bull driver who keeps his destiny in hand to win the first world champion title of his career before the last two races in Saudi Arabia (December 5) and Abu Dhabi (December 12).

But despite being eight points behind, Lewis Hamilton remains determined and has no intention of releasing the pressure. He still believes in an 8th world crown, which would make him the most successful driver in history alone ahead of Michael Schumacher. “We can do it,” he said while still in his car. Toto Wolff, boss of Mercedes, gave him "an appointment" in two weeks in Saudi Arabia. He's already taken.

Who leads Manchester United after the overthrow of Solskjaer?

 The "humiliating" defeat against Watford on Saturday struck the final nail in the coffin of Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as he announced his dismissal hours after his team's seventh defeat in 13 games, after the "Red Devils" fell to seventh place in the "Premier League" by a difference. 12 points off the leader Chelsea.

Changing the coach in the middle of the season does not happen much within the walls of "Old Trafford", but it seemed inevitable this time after a star-studded team declined to this degree, and while former star Michael Carrick will lead the team as a "transitional coach", during the upcoming matches, and perhaps until the end of the season. The most important question remains: Who will replace the expelled Norwegian, starting next season?

The Spanish newspaper "Marca" reported 5 names that are strongly nominated to lead Manchester United, and we will list them in order:

• Zinedine Zidane

The former Real Madrid star has not been working since last summer when he left the Spanish capital. Several reports have previously linked the French legend to coaching Manchester United on previous occasions, and it may turn out to be true now.

Zizou has had an impressive resume at Real Madrid, having won three Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups and two European Super Cups, and now remains eligible for a new experience in the powerful Premier League.

• Brendan Rodgers

The Northern Irish, who is currently leading Leicester City, after a bus experience in the "Premier League" that included Swansea City, Liverpool and Celtic.

Rodgers has become, over the years, one of the best coaches in the English Premier League, and led his team Leicester to fifth place twice, in addition to winning the FA Cup for the first time, all of which "achievements" support the candidacy of the young coach, 48, to lead Manchester United to a new future.

• Michael Carrick

The former Manchester United midfielder will take charge of the team temporarily after the sacking of Solskjaer, and his first match will be, on Tuesday, against Villarreal in the Champions League.

If Carrick succeeds in changing the results and cementing his position, it is possible that he will continue next season, and become a "full-time president", in the words of "Marca".

• Eric Ten Hag

The current Ajax coach is another potential candidate for this position, and has been leading the Dutch giants since 2017.

Ten Hag presents an attractive style of football, and he led his team to the Champions League semi-finals about two years ago, and it seems a possible alternative to Manchester United, who has not forgotten the experience of another Dutch coach, the veteran Louis van Gaal, who led him a few years ago.

• Laurent Blanc

The heart of the former Manchester United defense is in the race hard.

The French star played for two years at Old Trafford, before retiring in 2003, and now leads Qatar's Al Rayyan.

Blanc's strong personality, his experiences, as well as his rich experience, as he led the France national team after the 2010 World Cup, and won the French League with Bordeaux in 2009, are all elements of his candidacy for next season's presence at the head of the technical staff in Manchester United.