Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals he told Kylian Mbappe to leave PSG

'It is true that I told Kylian Mbappe he should leave PSG.'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that he has urged Kylian Mbappe to leave Paris Saint-Germain and join Real Madrid. The Swedish international spent four seasons at the Parc des Princes between 2012 and 2016, but believes that Mbappe needs to leave PSG in order to add "more structure" to better his development. The Frenchman - who is in the final year of his current deal and could leave the club for nothing at the end of the season - asked to leave the club in the summer, but the Parisians denied his request. Madrid made two significant offers for the 22-year-old over the previous transfer window, however, PSG did not respond to their bids of £137m and £154m. With Mbappe able to speak to foreign clubs over a pre-contract agreement at the start of January, the Parisians don't have long left to sort out a new contract for the frontman. Ibrahimovic - who scored 156 goals in 180 appearances for the French club - has urged the sought-after youngster to leave PSG, suggesting that Real Madrid would be a suitable destination for the attacker. However, the AC Milan striker also added that he had previously advised PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi not to cash-in on Mbappe. https://twitter.com/RMadridHome/status/1466010784434171905 "It is true that I told Kylian Mbappe he should leave PSG," Ibrahimovic told Italian media outlet Corriere della Sera. "He needs a more structured environment like the one at Real Madrid. "However, I also advised the PSG president not to sell him." His comments follow AS Sport's report that Mbappe is 'getting closer' to the Bernabeu, with the forward 'desperate' for a move to Spain. It is thought that the French outfit were optimistic in August over their chances of keeping Mbappe and were said to be open to making him the highest-paid member of a squad that includes Lionel Messi and Neymar. Mbappe has been in sensational form ever since he arrived from Monaco in 2017, registering 141 goals and 86 assists in 195 appearances for the nine-time French champions. Yet, with his deal in Paris expiring on 30 June 2022, speculation over his future is only likely to intensify in the coming weeks and months. Related links:

• Kylian Mbappe ‘getting closer’ to Real Madrid transfer next summer
• Mbappe insists he’s “happy” at PSG but fails to distance himself from Real Madrid links
• Kylian Mbappe ‘doesn’t do enough’ for PSG, claims Zlatan