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Mbappe booed at Ballon d’Or …amid transfer rumours

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe was booed at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held in the French capital amid speculation over his future.

The 23-year-old has recently been in the headlines as reports have emerged suggesting that he has requested to leave the Ligue 1 champions in January.

Mbappe seemingly ended speculation over a potential exit from the Parc de Princes when he signed a new three-year contract with the club in May until the summer of 2025.

However, the France international allegedly feels ‘betrayed’ by PSG after promises were broken following his contract renewal, and his relationship with the club is believed to be ‘completely broken.’

After recording 39 goals and 26 assists in 46 games across all competitions for PSG last season, Mbappe finished sixth in the 2022 Ballon d’Or rankings, with France teammate and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema winning the award for the first time.

Before the ceremony began at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Mbappe was booed as he walked onto the red carpet with his father, with several local supporters seemingly unimpressed with the rumours circulating around his future at PSG.

Mbappe has denied reports claiming that he has asked to leave the club in the winter window and insists that he remains content in the French capital.

Speaking to RMC Sport after PSG’s 1-0 win over Marseille on Sunday, Mbappe said: “I have not asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain in January. I’m not furious with the club, it’s not true.”

PSG have also denied claims of setting up fake social media accounts to conduct a smear campaign against members at the club including Mbappe.

A statement read: “PSG strongly deny Mediapart’s allegations. PSG is an international brand that works constantly with social media agencies around the world to promote and celebrate the achievements of the club, its employees and its partners, like all companies. The club has never contracted with an agency to harm anyone.”

Meanwhile, sporting director Luis Campos believes Mbappe is an “extraordinary professional” and he is confident that the forward will remain at the club beyond the January window.

“It’s a categorical denial on our part. Whether he’s happy or not, that’s a question you have to ask him. It’s a very personal question,” Campos told RMC Sport last week.

“I see Kylian working. Kylian is an extraordinary professional. For example, he played sick in the last match in Reims, he made the effort for the team. I see Kylian arriving with his teammates, happy every day and with a huge desire to work.

“I’m very surprised because I’m with Kylian Mbappe every day and he never asked me, and I just asked the president, he never asked to leave in January. I don’t think that he thinks about it because if he thinks about it, he’s going to tell me. He never told me, I know he never told the president, that he wants to leave in January.

“In my opinion yes [he’s staying in January]. He never said anything to me. For me it’s clear that Kylian Mbappe is staying to follow his contract with PSG.”

Mbappe was strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid over the summer, but Los Blancos allegedly have no plans to rekindle their interest in the Frenchman in 2023.

Liverpool have also been credited with an interest but the Reds are unlikely to make for the forward after splashing the cash on Darwin Nunez over the summer, with his deal potentially rising to a club-record £85m.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Mbappe has enjoyed a prolific spell in front of goal for PSG so far this season, scoring 12 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions. – SportsMole

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