French government minister describes Kylian Mbappé as a French “cultural and economic asset.” | OneFootball

French government minister and Paris Saint-Germain fan Karl Olive has defended Kylian Mbappé (23) amidst an explosive, controversial Le Parisien article that detailed the French striker’s enormous salary.

The article, which claims that Mbappé is earning €630m per year in gross salary, has been refuted by the reigning Ligue 1 champions. The club described it as “sensationalist” and questioned its timing with a key Champions League fixture against Maccabi Haifa looming.

Olive, a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s La République en Marche party has now said, “What is indecent is throwing out figures like that on the fly without even being explained. Kylian Mbappé isn’t an expense for PSG, he isn’t an expense for France. He is an investment. Kylian Mbappé is a cultural asset for our country, an economic asset for our country.”

Mbappé is reportedly intent on leaving the club over broken promises during the recent summer transfer window. He is also disappointed about not playing in tandem with a target striker, as he does with Les Bleus. Macron himself was involved in Mbappé’s renewal in May, convincing him to stay at PSG, instead of moving to Real Madrid.