'French Approval' Opens Door For Al Hilal, Mbappe Talks

Kylian Mbappe  - Reuters/file
Kylian Mbappe - Reuters/file
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'French Approval' Opens Door For Al Hilal, Mbappe Talks

Kylian Mbappe  - Reuters/file
Kylian Mbappe - Reuters/file

Paris Saint-Germain have received a world record bid of 300-million-euro ($333 million) for Kylian Mbappe from Saudi club Al Hilal, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Monday.

"The club has given permission to Al Hilal to speak with Mbappe," the PSG source said.

Mbappe, 24, has one year left on his contract with PSG, who want him to leave now rather than for nothing next summer.

The standoff between Mbappe and the French club reached a new peak at the weekend when they dropped him from their squad to tour Japan and South Korea.

There have been suggestions that Mbappe would not be selected for an entire year if he fails to find a solution with PSG.

Mbappe, the club's all-time top scorer with 212 goals in 260 appearances, remains the second most expensive player in history behind his PSG teammate Neymar.

"In the group so far that have expressed their interest there are Manchester United, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Tottenham and obviously the Saudi club and Real Madrid," the source said.

Riyadh-based Al Hilal are one of the clubs owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).



Versatile Gonzalez Happy to Play Out of Position at Juventus

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Napoli - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - September 21, 2024 Juventus' Nicolas Gonzalez reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo
Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Napoli - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - September 21, 2024 Juventus' Nicolas Gonzalez reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo
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Versatile Gonzalez Happy to Play Out of Position at Juventus

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Napoli - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - September 21, 2024 Juventus' Nicolas Gonzalez reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo
Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Napoli - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - September 21, 2024 Juventus' Nicolas Gonzalez reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo

Nicolas Gonzalez is happy to play out of position for Juventus, the Argentina international said after scoring his second goal within a week in Sunday's 2-1 win at Monza, following a two-month absence due to muscular problems.

Coach Thiago Motta's strategy of playing Gonzalez, usually a winger, behind striker Dusan Vlahovic in the first half paid off as Juventus struck twice before the break to clinch their first win in five Serie A matches.

"To help the team, I can also play as goalkeeper ... I also let the coach know that," Gonzalez told DAZN after netting the winner, Reuters reported.

Motta praised the versatility of Gonzalez and Juve's other goalscorer Weston McKennie, saying it was a pleasure for a coach to work with players with the right attitude.

Juventus, sixth in the table, host fifth-placed Fiorentina next Sunday.