Source: Forbes
Paris Saint-Germain’s French superstar Kylian Mbappe could reportedly join Real Madrid in a record-smashing deal that could be worth €250 million. According to the French news site PSG Community, a deal has been agreed by the respective clubs’ representatives after a meeting, as Mbappe’s departure from Paris looks imminent. If this should happen, it will be a new transfer record, breaking Neymar’s move to PSG from Barcelona for €222 million in 2017.
Mbappe’s Fallout with Paris
The top scorer in last year’s World Cup could be staring at the prospect of being at the receiving end of PSG fans’ anger after refusing to trigger the club’s offer of a contract extension that would have him play in the French Capital till 2025. Mbappe’s current contract runs out in 2024.
Incidentally, PSG’s owner, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Than has issued an ultimatum telling Mbappe that he could be sold this year if he does not sign a contract extension, PSG Community reported. Despite the 2018 World Cup winner’s assurance that he is satisfied at his current club and would play there till next year, the onus is on PSG to either ensure his service or sell him for a hefty price instead of letting him go for free when his contract ends in what would be a marketing disaster.
Mbappe, who joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 on loan as a talented youngster, could be ending a six-year stint at PSG where he won numerous accolades for the club. In 2018, the club signed him permanently for €180 million, an astronomical sum for a teenager. The 24-year has so far scored 148 goals for the French club.
However, there seems to be a new twist in the saga as reports emerged that Mbappe is determined to see out his current contract at PSG which would see him earn a staggering €150 million in salary and loyalty bonus, as reported by MARCA. After this, Mbappe is reported to plan a negotiation where he hopes to earn a further €100 to €125 million in transfer bonus as compensation for a free transfer.
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola hinted at Madrid as Mbappe’s next destination suggesting that it is what the player wants and hence, City would not try to sign him.
Madrid Cautious of Humiliation
It has been a few years now that Real Madrid have been heavily linked with the French striker and came within touching distance of signing him in 2022 before the player made a dramatic U-turn to sign a new contract at PSG. This was a blow to Madrid who were fairly confident of landing their primary target. Madrid president, Florentino Perez, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Frenchman when he was caught saying on camera that the “poor guy must be regretting it already.”
Source: Daily Mail
Furthermore, now that the rumors of Mbappe joining Madrid is rife again, the Spanish club would like to forget an embarrassing post on social media where they, unfortunately, tagged a handle, whose name contains derogatory slurs at the Frenchman. Madrid deleted the post soon, although, copies of it are still at large on the internet.
As such, Spanish newspapers AS and MARCA, who cover Madrid extensively have neither confirmed nor denied the supposed agreement between the two clubs. Existing hurdles in Mbappe’s contract mean Madrid would like to be more sure-footed this time around.
