Kylian Mbappé and his representatives refused to meet with Al-Hilal officials in Paris on Wednesday to discuss a possible world-record transfer to Saudi Arabia, it has been reported.
Mbappé’s club Paris Saint-Germain are understood to have given the Saudi Pro League side permission to speak with the France striker over personal terms after receiving a £259m bid for the player in writing.
An Al-Hilal delegation was reported to have been hoping to sell their project to Mbappé in Paris while finalising the signing of Brazil striker Malcom from Zenit St Petersburg.
But, according to the French sports newspaper L’Equipe, Mbappé and his team have refused to enter into discussions with the Saudi club and he has never considered the move as an option.
Mbappé’s PSG future has been in doubt since it he told the club in June that he would not extend his existing deal through to 2025, meaning he would become a free agent next summer, and able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with another club as early as January.
PSG have not confirmed the reports that Mbappé has snubbed Al-Hilal’s approach, but are understood to be convinced that Mbappé has already agreed a free transfer to Real Madrid next summer.
Parisian sources have said the 24-year-old would benefit from a €160m (£138m) signing-on fee if he wound down his existing contract and moved to the Spanish capital in 2024.