Why Mbappe Is Meeting With France President & Emir of Qatar In Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron has extended an invitation to dinner for Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

After years of speculation, the mercurial Frenchman appears to be leaving the Parc des Princes this summer with a deal to Real Madrid all but confirmed. According to Le Parisien, Mbappe and club president Al-Khelaifi have received an invitation to Paris’ Elysee Palace from President Macron, who is no new to intervening in issues at the capital club. However, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar,’s attendance is what gave the visit its unique character.

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According to the report, Macron has organised a meal on Tuesday in honour of Sheikh Tamim, with Mbappe and Khelaifi asked to join. Le Parisien notes that other PSG team-mates may also be in attendance. Sheikh Tamim’s presence has been requested by Macron to broker negotiations regarding the ceasefire and release of hostages in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Neither Mbappe nor Khelaifi will be present for such talks, as they are simply in attendance for the meal set up by Macron.

Mbappe’s desire to stay at the Paris club has long been expressed by Macron, who said he would “try and push” for the Frenchman to sign a new deal. Though he made some attempts, they were unsuccessful, and now the 25-year-old is about to depart the Parc des Princes after seven years in order to take on a new challenge as a “Galactico.” In order to do so, Mbappe reportedly rejected a £188 million ($238 million) offer from PSG.

Mbappe will not be making his debut at Paris’ Elysee Palace on Tuesday night. According to Le Parisien, the French forward went to a meeting there following France’s victorious World Cup run in 2018. He also met Sheikh Tamim and Macron in February 2018, following George Weah’s election as Liberia’s president.

Mbappe will undoubtedly try to close out this season with his current employers as strongly as possible before embarking on his next adventure in the capital of Spain. As manager Luis Enrique hinted to in a recent press conference outlining his substitution, PSG, meanwhile, might start preparing for life without their great forward.