Mbappe hints at future away from PSG, move to Real up in air

The French winger, who won the World Cup with the national team last summer, didn't mince his words when he spoke after collecting the Ligue 1 player of the year award on Sunday.

Kylian Mbappe has given a strong indication that his future could be away from Paris Saint-Germain, saying the time is perhaps right for him to take "more responsibility".

The 20-year-old was named as the Ligue 1 player of the season on Sunday and, speaking after collecting the away, hinted at a potential move away from France.

“It (the award) is an important moment for me, a turning point in my career... The moment of having more responsibilities, maybe at PSG, maybe elsewhere,” he told BeIN Sports .

“For me, it was the moment to say it... When I say something, I think about it,” he said, reiterating his desire to have more “responsibilities”. “If my future is at PSG, it's good, if it's elsewhere, it will be elsewhere for a new challenge,” Mbappe further added.

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Mbappe has been regularly linked with a potential move to Real Madrid since breaking through with Monaco's 2017 Ligue 1 title-winning team, but instead made the switch to PSG, on loan for the 2017-18 season, before completing a €180m permanent transfer. He still has four years left on his current PSG contract.

Since Zinedine Zidane's return to the Real dug-out earlier this year, rumours about Mbappe joining his fellow Frenchman at the Santiago Bernabeu have intensified.

In March, Zidane said he would be "happy to coach Mbappe", while he has also hinted that Gareth Bale doesn't feature in his plans going forward.

Mbappe became only the second teenager in history last year, after Brazil legend Pele, to score in a World Cup final during France's 4-2 triumph over Croatia.

His global stardom -- surely eye-catching for the likes of Real -- was shown when he became only the fourth footballer to feature on the cover of Time magazine in October, after Messi, Neymar and Mario Balotelli.

An Mbappe exit would be a blow for PSG, although increased transfer funds may not be all bad for the French champion as it looks to strengthen its squad in the bid for a first Champions League title.