Mbappé assures that staying has been the most difficult decision of his life 4:05
(CNN) --
With a charismatic leading man, politicians, two of the world's biggest soccer clubs and hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, the Kylian Mbappé saga kept the soccer world on edge as it debated whether to sign for the Real Madrid or stay at Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG).
A World Cup winner at just 19, the second teenager -- after Pele -- to score in a World Cup final, and Ligue 1's top scorer for four consecutive seasons, Mbappe is a one-of-a-kind footballer.
The 23-year-old star striker had been associated with Real Madrid for some time.
He was invited to the Spanish club's academy when he was 11, had Cristiano Ronaldo posters on the walls of his childhood bedroom, and had said last year that he wanted to join the now 14-time Champions League winner. League.
Mbappé scored a goal at the Bernabéu stadium in PSG's 3-2 aggregate defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals this year.
(Photo: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The Spanish giant presented a US$188 million offer for Mbappé in August.
The deal was close to closing, and the striker even admitted then that he wanted to leave PSG.
"I was sincere. I shared my feeling, I offered what I have in my heart," Mbappe told CNN's Becky Anderson in December.
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This was how Kylian Mbappé confirmed that he is staying at PSG
Therefore, when the Frenchman extended his contract with PSG instead of signing for the meringues, it was a shock, to say the least.
"It was the hardest decision of my life," Mbappe told CNN's Amanda Davies on May 23.
"I wanted to make the best decision...and that takes time...but I think I made the right decision."
"The project is to always win"
Mbappé reveals details of his extension with PSG 1:04
Mbappé explained his decision to stay in Paris by repeatedly referring to the "project" being built at PSG.
Despite seemingly limitless reserves of money, PSG have so far failed to win a Champions League, and have an unfortunate habit of falling in the knockout stages.
Now, it seems that the club modifies its approach.
"If I change all the things I want to change at the club," Mbappe said before pausing and rethinking.
"If the club grows with me, if I can write the history of the club collectively with the Champions League or individually as well, I will be happy with this contract."
"When they showed me this project, I said, okay, it's interesting. And I want to try it. I want to try it again," he said.
Mbappe was an integral part of France's World Cup-winning team, scoring a goal in the final as France beat Croatia 4-2.
(Photo: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Following Mbappé's decision to stay, other changes appear to be afoot at the Parc des Princes.
"There are going to be a lot of changes for sure," club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told CNN's Amanda Davies.
"We want to create a new era for Paris Saint-Germain, a new project, fresh air. I think it's very important that everyone gets motivated again."
However, at the press conference in which he announced his contract extension, Mbappé denied that his new contract gave him more weight on or off the pitch.
"As for the project here, no special responsibility is needed to be invested," he told reporters.
"Macron gave me good advice"
Mbappé was born and raised in Bondy, a suburb of Paris 11 kilometers from the city center and, except for a two-year stint playing for Monaco, has lived in the French capital all his life.
"He's Parisian. He's French. He loves his country. He loves his club," Al-Khelaifi told CNN.
"So he plays for the club for five years (and) there is a relationship. There is love between him, the club, the fans and his country."
There are murals dedicated to him dotted around his old neighborhood, where he became a hero to young footballers in the area.
On the side of a building, a painting depicts a young Mbappé sleeping, dreaming of representing France.
"He loves your dream and he will love you", says a little legend.
Since winning the 2018 World Cup, Mbappé has become a French cultural icon.
(Photo: Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
As a figure for the French national team, hailing from a suburb north of Paris, Mbappé's value goes beyond his performances on the pitch and into politics.
On the television program Chez Jordan, the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, was full of praise for the young striker.
"Above all, I think that beyond football and the results, it is so important, so useful to give our young people hope... That's why I want it to stay," he said.
Even French President Emmanuel Macron weighed in to implore the young star to stay at PSG and in France.
"He gave me good advice," Mbappé said, "but with all due respect to him, it was my decision. I received that advice, but then I made my decision."
"I'm staying and I want to give my best for the history of the club and my country."
Can Mbappé's France break the champion's curse in the group stage?
New money vs. old money
Qatar Sports Investments (QSi) -- the owner of PSG -- is a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatar's state sovereign wealth fund.
Since the Qatari group - led by the Emir of Qatar himself - took control of PSG in 2011, the club has spent some US$1.5 billion on transfers, and has won Ligue 1 10 times, although the Champions League title has eluded him.
With just six months to go before Qatar hosts the World Cup, keeping the would-be star of that tournament at the club owned by the Emir is seen as a huge blow in his favor.
Real Madrid, according to The New York Times, offered Mbappé a signing bonus of almost US$140 million, an annual net salary of more than US$26 million and full control of his image rights.
PSG, backed by vast reserves of state money, struck back with a similar signing bonus, but a much higher annual salary of $65m, according to Sky Sports.
Mbappé, Neymar and Messi are forwards for PSG.
The fact that Real Madrid has not been able to match the economic offer of a rival is rare, and represents a victory for the "new" clubs financed by the pockets of national States over the more established "traditional" clubs with a long history. history behind his back.
"What PSG are doing by renewing Mbappé for a huge amount of money (who knows where and how it will be paid) after announcing losses of €700m in recent seasons and having a salary burden of €600m is An INSULT to football. Al-Khelafi is as dangerous as the Super League," tweeted Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga.
Tebas's tweet echoed the views of his organization, which issued a fiery statement once it seemed clear Mbappe would stay in France.
"LaLiga will present a complaint against PSG before UEFA, the French administrative court and the European Union and tax authorities to continue defending the economic ecosystem of European football and its sustainability," the statement said.
"We know that we are doing everything legally, everything correctly," Al-Khelaifi told CNN.
"And we are very happy. Nobody will destroy our celebration of re-signing Kylian Mbappé."
Kylian Mbappe PSG Real Madrid
