Why is PSG forward Kylian Mbappé not speaking to the media before France’s Euro 2024 qualifiers?

On June 15 2023, Kylian Mbappé spoke to the media as captain of the French national team ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifying match between Gibraltar and France in Faro, Portugal. Three days earlier, he had informed Paris Saint-Germain he had no intention of signing a new contract until 2025. During that pre-match press conference, nothing other than his future was discussed, with the forward insisting his only desire was to see out the remainder of his contract with PSG, which expires in 2024.

Mbappé's silent in European Championship qualification

Since then, there has been nothing but silence from Mbappé, who hasn’t sat down with the press before any of France’s subsequent four fixtures, which would normally be expected of a national team captain. The main reason for that, as has been discussed by other members of the French camp and the player himself in private, is he has been keen to ensure both he and everyone else have been fully focused on qualifying for Euro 2024, rather than his future.

France have now sealed their spot in the tournament, to be held in Germany in June and July next year, by virtue of their 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Friday. Mbappé, who hadn’t scored in four matches before the match in Amsterdam, was back in the headlines after netting a match-winning double. However, he will fade into the background once again in the run-up to Tuesday’s friendly against Scotland in Lille.

Reports: PSG’s Champions League performance crucial to Mbappé future

The former Monaco star is all too aware that his future would have again become the main topic of discussion on Monday were he to have spoken to the media, desperate to know if there has been any change in his contactual situation with PSG. The Ligue 1 champions have put talks on the back burner, with suggestions that their performance in this season’s Champions League will have a big part to play in whether he decides to stay in Paris or not.

Although there has been some debate in France as to whether or not Mbappé should end his media silence, there is no doubt he is the best candidate to captain Les Bleus. His teammates and head coach Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, believe all members of the roster should take part in press conferences. Ahead of September and October’s qualifiers, vice-captain Antoine Griezmann, Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and goalkeeper Mike Maignan have performed media duties.

Who will Kylian Mbappé play for in 2024-25?

Mbappé's long-term future won’t be settled before or in January, at which point he will be free to speak to potential suitors, including Real Madrid. In France, the general belief is he will ultimately extend his contract just when it looks as if he is destined to move to Spain, as happened in 2021. But don’t expect to find out until PSG’s 2023-24 Champions League campaign comes to an end.