Mbappé won’t rule out PSG return

SHORTS

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors speaks to the media after defeating the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 05, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **

CT_IC_1041308573_1041341020_016-0105_CT-mbappe-0105.JPG

Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe looks on during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Metz at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on December 20, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **

CT_IC_1041308573_1041340981_016-0105_APphoto_Pistorius Parole(4).JPG

FILE - Oscar Pistorius leaves the High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 15, 2016, after his sentencing proceedings. Oscar Pistorius is due on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 to be released from prison on parole to live under strict conditions at a family home after serving nearly nine years of his murder sentence for the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

PREVIOUS IMAGE

Image

NEXT IMAGE

Mbappé won’t rule out PSG return

Kylian Mbappé gave Paris Saint-Germain a glimmer of hope he might stay by insisting he has not yet decided on his future. Mbappé’s contract runs out in June, and last year he caused a stir by refusing to sign a 12-month contract extension, meaning he can leave on a free transfer at the end of this season. The 25-year-old France star is also authorized to talk to clubs in January and sign a pre-contract agreement. It was widely considered that Mbappé would see out this season and leave. Real Madrid is favored to sign him after twice failing with previous bids. But speaking late Wednesday after PSG’s victory against Toulouse in the Champions Trophy, Mbappé cast doubt on that. “I am very motivated for this season. It’s very important, we have trophies to win. Beyond that, no, I haven’t made my decision,” Mbappé said. PSG has insisted he will not leave for free. “With the agreement I reached with the (PSG) president this summer, never mind what decision I take, we managed to protect the serenity of the club for the challenges ahead,” Mbappé said. “That’s the most important thing.”

Report: Green’s suspension near end

Draymond Green, who’s serving an indefinite suspension, is expected to rejoin the Warriors in the coming days for practices and team activities. The expectation is that he’s preparing to return to play, ESPN reported Thursday. Though the NBA granted Green permission to be with his teammates, the 33-year-old four-time All-Star hasn’t participated in team activities since the league handed down the suspension on Dec. 13 for hitting Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face. Coach Steve Kerr said Tuesday that he and Green had been communicating through texts. “We’ve been giving him his space, he’s been giving us ours,” Kerr said. The NBA’s opaque suspension guidelines for Green say he has to meet “certain league and team conditions” to return to play. Kerr, GM Mike Dunleavy and Stephen Curry have said they hope Green can use the suspension to sort through some issues connected to his most recent on-court outbursts. Green reportedly has been having virtual meetings with NBA officials, Warriors officials and his agent, Rich Paul, to meet those guidelines.

Pistorius to be released on parole

Oscar Pistorius is due to be released from prison Friday to live under strict conditions at a family home having served nearly nine years of a murder sentence for the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The double-amputee Olympic runner from South Africa is set to leave the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria after being approved for parole in November, the second time he had applied. It will give the world a chance at its first glimpse in nearly a decade of the one-time sporting superstar who stunningly fell from grace after shooting Steenkamp multiple times through a closed toilet door at his home in the predawn hours of Valentine’s Day 2013. The 37-year-old multiple Paralympic champion will live under correctional supervision until the remainder of his murder sentence of 13 years and five months expires in December 2029. Pistorius has maintained that he shot Steenkamp by mistake. He testified that he believed she was a dangerous intruder hiding in his bathroom and shot through the door with his licensed pistol in self-defense. —News services