Mbappe's Demands Sparked Leonardo's PSG Exit: An Inside Look

Backstory: Mbappe's Demands and Leonardo's Exit

Brazilian executive Leonardo, PSG's former director, says Mbappe—France's captain and then linked to Real Madrid—was behind his exit from Parc des Princes in the summer of 2022. In an interview with Radio Monte Carlo, he stated that when Mbappe renewed his contract, he had conditions to stay, which he did not agree with, making it impossible for him to remain at the club.

He added that he would have rejected all such conditions and that there was no problem with the club's owner at that time. Asked whether he could have stayed if Mbappe had left, Leonardo said Mbappe wished to move to Real Madrid, and that the decision was not primarily about money but about personal wishes.

Leonardo's Take on the Club, the Future, and Paris Saint-Germain

He emphasized that no player should be bigger than the club. He also spoke about his own future: he does not see himself returning as sporting director, noting that role requires very strong influence, which he no longer seeks, and he cannot imagine it at another club either.

Leonardo added that he no longer returned to Milan to revive his career, suggesting football may be nearing its end unless a Qatar-like investor funds an extraordinary project. He also stressed that the dream isn’t only PSG’s—it's everyone’s to see a French team win the Champions League with a young core.

Regarding PSG's European ambitions, he recalled the project’s early five-year plan to compete for Europe, saying that building a strong squad was the goal, not merely declaring victory. He believes the plan has been realized.

PSG's Season 2025-2026 and the European Quest

Leonardo highlighted PSG's current campaign, noting eight league wins from the start of the season with one loss to Marseille and three draws. They began with 1-0 wins over Nantes and Angers, followed by a 6-3 thrashing of Toulouse, a 2-0 win over Lens, and a 2-0 victory against Auxerre. Before the international break, they drew away to Lille (1-1) and Strasbourg (3-3), but later regained top spot with a win over Brest and a draw with Lorient. In the final two league rounds, PSG narrowly beat Nice and Lyon as they chase a fifth straight title.

In Europe, PSG opened with three straight wins — over Atalanta (4-0), Barcelona (2-1), and Bayer Leverkusen (7-2) — before a 2-1 setback to Bayern Munich in the fourth game. The summer setback came with the expanded Club World Cup final loss to Chelsea (3-0); still, most predictions had favored the Parisians beforehand.