Pep Guardiola delivers Kylian Mbappe transfer response as PSG eye Bernardo Silva deal
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Paris Saint-Germain has emerged as a potential destination for Bernardo Silva, but the Manchester City star’s former Monaco team-mate Kylian Mbappe could also be on the move.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted his team are not prepared to transfer Kylian Mbappe after he raised questions about his future at Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe is under contract with Parc des Princes until 2024, with the option to extend his contract for another year. A reported reluctance to extend the deal has hinted at renewed interest from Real Madrid, but City seem reluctant to do so.
Madrid are looking for an attacking addition after Karim Benzema left for Al Ittihad, with an emphasis on Mbappe in the past. However, City seem happy to have Erling Haaland at the helm, with Jack Grealish and Phil Foden supporting them from the outside.
In a video clip shared by Sky Sports, Guardiola replies “no” when asked if City are bidding for Mbappe. He was then pushed further on the reasons for the decision, and asked whether he expected the France international to join Real Madrid, but didn’t divulge much more information, saying “I have no idea. You know more about it than I do.”
When asked whether Mbappe was a player he would like at City, Guardiola again gave a straightforward answer. “You know which team he wants to go to,” the Catalan said.
Amid the latest rumours, Mbappe has continued to deliver on the pitch. He scored the only goal of the game on Monday, converting a penalty to give France a 1-0 European Championships victory over Greece.
There could still be some movement between City and PSG this summer, but in the opposite direction. Sky Sports reports that Bernardo Silva, Mbappe’s team-mate when Monaco eliminated City from the Champions League in 2016/17, could be offered to leave by the Parisian club.
Portugal international Bernardo is keen to stay on, suggesting that a proper exit plan would not get in the way of a Triple Crown winner. The 28-year-old has been courted by Barcelona for some time, but financial troubles on the side of La Liga could pave the way for PSG.
Bernardo was reportedly eager to move when Barcelona were targeted last summer, but he remained at Manchester to play his role in the treble. His teammate Grealish was seen begging his colleagues to stay at City’s celebrations.
City are also gearing up for the possible departure of Kyle Walker, with Bayern Munich among the clubs interested in a City defender. Walker and Bernardo moved to the Etihad Stadium in the same 2017 summer slot, winning the league title by 100 points in their first season at the club and reaching the 2023 Champions League final.
