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Pochettino pays Mbappe a glowing tribute amid Real Madrid links

Mauricio Pochettino, Kylian Mbappe
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After Kylian Mbappe’s match-winning brace, the PSG manager praised his forward and reiterated his desire to keep him.

Mauricio Pochettino believes it is a blessing for Paris Saint-Germain to have a player such as Kylian Mbappe.

Despite the constant links to Real Madrid, Mbappe started on Sunday’s Ligue 1 trip to Reims. The Frenchman scored both goals in each half to seal PSG a solid 2-0 win. The result maintained the league leader’s perfect start to the season, having won all four of their games.

“He is our player. But you know the business, it’s full of rumors,” PSG coach Pochettino told Amazon Prime after the match. “Our president [Nasser Al-Khelaifi] and our director [Leonardo] are very clear. He is here with us and we are happy with him. He is an important player, and it is a gift to have him with us.”

What’s the latest on the player’s future?

Real Madrid have reportedly made a second bid of around €170 million, including €10m in bonuses. Despite the risk of losing Mbappe for free next summer, PSG are still not keen. The club’s hierarchy rates the 22-year-old’s worth as much more than that, even with less than a year left on his contract.

It’s understood PSG would try to convince Mbappe to sign a new contract if he stays. The club chiefs remain calm. Their priority is to keep the striker, not sell him.

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