PSG
PSG poised to make the same mistake with Mbappé
The French striker could follow in the footsteps of Cavani, Thiago Silva and Coman in leaving the club at the end of his contract in June.
Right now, Kylian Mbappé's future remains unresolved and it doesn't look like the situation is going to change at any point in the next few weeks. The France international is focused solely on winning the Champions League with PSG and the issue of renewing his contract has taken a back seat. He will decide when he has to and has not set himself a deadline to make that decision. But if he does end up leaving, he won't be the first PSG star to move on as a free agent...
Perhaps the most memorable case was that involving Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan striker remains the club's all-time top goal scorer with 200 goals in over 300 appearances. He joined PSG in July 2013 on a 64 million euro deal, but by June 2020, his contract had expired, leaving him free to sign a two-year deal with Manchester United. In leaving, he effectively passed up the chance to star in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Lisbon - his relationship with Leonardo had deteriorated beyond repair months earlier - in January 2020, Cavani had an agreement in place with Atlético Madrid only for the deal to fall through.
Thiago Silva swaps Paris for Stamford Bridge
Along with Cavani, Thiago Silva also left on a free in the summer of 2020. But he at least managed to play in the Champions League final against Bayern, and played a key role in getting PSG to Lisbon. However, at 35, he was deemed too old to be offered a new contract and Leonardo decided to let him go. The Brazilian signed a one-year deal with Chelsea and showed that he still has plenty to give. With the Blues he won the Champions League - an achievement which PSG are still waiting for.
After 180 games, 156 goals, 61 assists and 12 winners' medals, Zlatan Ibrahimovic quit PSG without leaving any fee behind in 2016. It was the club's decision not to extend his contract following the team's elimination by Manchester City in the Champions League quarter finals - the big Swede disappointed in both legs of the tie. In June, history could repeat itself with Mbappé, who looks set to join PSG's Last 16 rivals, Real Madrid.