Saint-Denis (AFP)

Placed in orbit at Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappé finds his launch pad, Monaco, for a Coupe de France final on Wednesday, after which he could be tempted to go even further into the stars.

"It is unthinkable to do without Kylian", assures Mauricio Pochettino.

Not a PSG press conference ends without asking a question about the contract of the world champion, in great shape for three months.

And each time the Argentinian coach sends the same message: "We hope to keep him with us for a long time", "Poche" said again, calling him "one of the best players in the world".

Under contract with the PSG until 2022, "Kyky" has the choice, he himself presented it thus, between registering in the duration with the PSG, where he arrived, of Monaco, in 2017, or else try the adventure elsewhere in the galaxy of big European clubs.

Shaken by the Covid 19 crisis, few planets can welcome it, but Real Madrid continues to dream of its arrival.

Mbappé repeats that he is "in reflection" on this subject.

To impose himself in one of the European monsters would be part of the career plan of a potential Ballon d'Or.

But he could also mark more the history of his sport by guiding PSG to its very first Champions League rather than helping Real to win a 14th or Liverpool a 7th, for example.

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- Transfer noises -

The sporting director, Leonardo, is negotiating to extend the jewel, President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi also did not hesitate to openly say that Mbappé and Neymar had to stay, after the feat against Bayern Munich (3- 2, 0-1) in the quarter-finals, which proved that the C1, the Bondynois could win it in the capital.

For the Brazilian, it's done, he extended until 2025, plus an optional year.

For the French, it discusses.

These transfer noises, the young man of 22 years is used to them.

His name already crossed out the transfer window sections four years earlier, when he was still in Monaco.

He ended up joining PSG, which paid 180 million EUR, just before the shooting window closed.

"We're used to these rumors, at big clubs and for top-class players like Kylian," Pochettino said in April.

"The most important thing is that he stays calm, he is only focused on the team and the goals."

The Argentinian "cannot control everything that goes around, but the influence on the work of the team is zero," he assured.

The proof, since the subject of his contract comes back with insistence, Mbappé is excellent.

He did not experience a hollow until the semi-final of C1 missed against Manchester City (2-1, 2-0), where he did not give his full measure in the first leg and missed on injury the return.

- Already 40 goals -

Last Wednesday in Montpellier for his return, he was stratospheric, in the half of the Coupe de France.

His double contributed to the qualification for the final (2-2, 6 tab to 5).

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His goal against Reims (4-0) on Sunday is already the 40th of the season, in all competitions, his personal best.

Greedy for statistics and lines in the charts, Mbappé intends to continue this accounting, against his training club.

If Monaco has already beaten PSG twice this season in L1, the duel has often smiled on Mbappé.

He managed a hat-trick in April 2019 (3-1) then a double this season in the first leg, despite the defeat (3-2).

And then the striker has a revenge with the Coupe de France.

In the previous final, postponed to July 24, the victory was spoiled by a tackle from Loïc Perrin (excluded) who had forced him to leave after half an hour of play, against Saint-Etienne (1-0).

Because of this injury, the prodigy appeared diminished in Final 8 and could not conquer the trophy, beaten in the final by Bayern (1-0).

This time he is in full possession of his means, and Monaco knows very well what he is capable of.

© 2021 AFP