France captain Kylian Mbappe will attend a dinner with Emmanuel Macron at the French president’s residence on Tuesday as part of a diplomatic visit from the Emir of Qatar, according to a report.
Macron is said to have invited Mbappe and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to the meal in honour of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who is holding discussions as part of his state’s role in negotiations around a ceasefire and release of hostages in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Le Parisien said it had confirmed information from RMC Sports about the dinner, adding that Al-Khelaifi will not participate in discussions about the situation in the Middle East.
Mbappe made his Bleus debut shortly before Macron was elected in 2017 and attended a meal between two heads of state in February 2018, when football legend George Weah shared a lunch at the palace with Macron following the former forward’s election as president of Liberia.
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Then an 18-year-old Monaco player, Mbappe made his move to PSG permanent the following year, moving to the Parc des Princes, which is close to the palace.
The PSG top scorer announced this month that he will be leaving the reigning champions at the end of the season, when many expect him to end Real Madrid’s long pursuit of his signature by joining the Spanish giants.
Kylian Mbappé on Macron’s influence on his decision:
“What influence does the president have? On my career today, in 2023, none.”
— Capitaine Positivité ???????????????? (@Snekyson) February 26, 2024
Mbappe: Macron calls ‘crazy’
Macron has previously tried to persuade his country’s talisman from leaving its leading club.
“We had several calls,” Mbappe told Marca in 2022 about his conversations with the head of state.
“In December, January, February, March. Macron called me and said, ‘I know you want to leave, but I want you to know that you are important for France and I would not like you to leave. You have the chance to make history here. Everyone loves you.’
“I said I appreciated it. It’s really crazy. The president calls you and asks you to stay.”
Mbappe “could be accompanied by some of his partners” if he accepts Macron’s invitation, the report said.
PSG manager Luis Enrique said his squad needed to familiarise themselves with playing without Mbappe after substituting him during the second half of their 1-1 draw at home to Rennes on Sunday. Mbappe’s replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scored the 97th-minute equaliser.
