Kylian Mbappé reveals role Emmanuel Macron played in keeping him at PSG

The French president played a major role

Kylian Mbappé has revealed that French president Emmanuel Macron played a role in trying to persuade him to stay at Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappé was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid last season, and had agreed personal terms with them, before opting to sign a three-year mega deal at the French champions. The forward has since opened up about the time he spent pondering his future and how he had a conversation with Macron, who did what he could to convince him that he belonged at PSG. "I never imagined I’m gonna talk with the president about my future, about my future in my career, so it’s something crazy, really something crazy," he told the New York Times. "He told me: 'I want you to stay. I don’t want you to leave now. You are so important for the country.'"

Mbappé also claimed that Macron's advice had stuck with him when it came to turning down Madrid's approach in favour of staying in the French capital. He added: "'You have time to leave, you can stay a little bit more.' "Of course," Mbappé said, "when the president says that to you, that counts." The 23-year-old has started this season strongly and has scored seven goals in five games this season in Ligue 1. PSG start their Champions League campaign against Juventus on Tuesday night as Christophe Galtier aims to become the first manager to win the French side a Champions League title for the first time in their history. Related links: