Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and the big mess at Paris Saint-Germain

Something's going on at Paris Saint-Germain for their two superstars, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, not only to not sign contract renewals but to refuse to rule out a move away from the club. The uncertainty around their futures suggests a structural problem at the French champions.

On the pitch, they have taken huge strides forward in Europe, reaching the Champions League final last year and this year's semifinals, with the first leg against Manchester City on Wednesday. No one doubts that they're a competitive team at the top level.

Off the pitch, they have the financial muscle to pay the biggest transfer fees and wages to players. In that sense, Neymar and Mbappe may even have to take pay cuts to leave the club.

Yet they have reached the decisive stage of the season with neither of their best players willing to yet commit their future to the club beyond the end of their current terms, which expire in 2022.

NEYMAR'S REBELLION

Neymar's been running rings around PSG for more than a year. He has a pre-agreement to extend his deal until 2026 but hasn't signed because he wants to return to Barcelona. If he was so convinced Paris was the best place for him, he would have signed the deal and have the signing-on bonus in his pocket.

Don't forget that in each summer signing joining the French side, Neymar's tried to return to Barcelona, with the exception of last summer. In the middle of a pandemic, with the Champions League played in Lisbon in August, he sought stability and publicly expressed his desire to stay with PSG. Maybe because it was impossible to leave. In 2019, he even considered refusing to play to get back to Camp Nou -- and came close to his objective.

MBAPPE CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION

Mbappe is different to Neymar. He's playing in his homeland. He became a world champion in France in 2018 and is seven years younger than the Brazilian. Another nationality, another generation... but the same desire: to leave Paris. He has a year to run on his contract but there's no agreement to renew, as is the case with Neymar. What's more, the two parties are not even close.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Manchester City wait. And Mbappe and his family are excited at the possibility of linking up with Zinedine Zidane or Pep Guardiola.

PSG, even if they end up winning the Champions League, have to live with the humiliation of knowing that they're not wanted by their biggest stars. If Neymar stays, it will be because of a lack of alternatives. If Mbappe stays, it will be to play a waiting game because the club have made his exit impossible.

NEW FC BARCELONA PODCAST IN ENGLISH