Earlier this year, in the 2022 summer transfer window, Spanish giants Real Madrid was the favorite to sign the French superstar Kylian Mbappe. Los Blancos had been pursuing the 24-year-old forward for quite some time.
Real Madrid is one club that is known to break the bank for blockbuster signings. The 2019/20 transfer window saw the arrivals of Eden Hazard, Rodrygo, Eder Militao, and Ferland Mendy. It was the biggest spend by the Madrid club in the last 9 transfer windows.
Kylian Mbappe was widely tipped to become the latest mega-money acquisition. The Los Blancos had uncharacteristically quiet transfer windows in recent times. Big money was spent on French duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, while Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba arrived for free.
It was reported that Florentino Perez’s club had seen a $216 million bid rejected by PSG. Subsequent reports suggested that Mbappe only wanted to play for Madrid. This, in turn, was followed by reports of Perez aiming to go back to the negotiating table with a better offer in the summer window.
Kylian Mbappé: “I’m really happy to continue the adventure here at Paris Saint-Germain. To stay in Paris, my city”. 🔵🔴 #PSG
“I hope that I will continue to do what I prefer to with you all… and win titles together! Thanks a lot”. pic.twitter.com/wkEBYbmC3y
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 21, 2022
However, before Madrid even had a chance to approach PSG, Kylian Mbappe opted for a contract renewal with the French club. The new deal included improved wages. The club also empowered him to be involved in sporting decisions. Sporting decisions in this case related to the appointment of coaches, recruitment of players and so on.
Shortly thereafter, post-Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League victory, Los Blancos President Florentino Perez made some comments, confirming that the relations had been soured beyond repair. “It was his dream to play for Real Madrid. Maybe he changed his dream,” Perez said.
Real Madrid is Aiming For Kylian Mbappe After FIFA World Cup
Real Madrid is reportedly preparing a bid of over $1 billion to bring the Golden Boot winner to Santiago Bernabéu. This has been reported by Sky Sports in their paper talk section.
Mbappe had a stellar World Cup campaign with France. The 24-year-old forward netted 8 times, including a hat-trick against Argentina in the Final. The Frenchman has been in fine form at the club level as well. He has 24 goal contributions in 20 appearances for PSG across all competitions this season. There have been multiple reports linking the Frenchman to the Madrid club since the World Cup ended.
Real Madrid are 'ready to pay €1 billion' to sign PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hx2W6iJPyN
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 22, 2022
It remains to be seen whether Perez is willing to let bygones be bygones and bid for the 2018 World Cup winner again in the 2023 January transfer window. However, there are still those in Madrid who would take Mbappe at their club in the blink of an eye. This includes Spanish Tennis Legend Rafael Nadal.
🎙️| Rafael Nadal: “I don't have to forgive Mbappé for anything, in sports these things happen. He wanted to come to Real Madrid but he was under a lot of pressure and everything was complicated for him. I hope to see him at Madrid in the future.” #rmalive
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) December 23, 2022
The tennis superstar is an outspoken Real Madrid fan. He is reportedly keen on Mbappe and remains sure that the Frenchman will eventually end up in Madrid.
🎙️| Rafael Nadal: “As a Real Madrid fan, I will sign Mbappé tomorrow.” #rmalive
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) December 23, 2022
“I don’t have to forgive Mbappé for anything, in sports these things happen. He wanted to come to Real Madrid but he was under a lot of pressure and everything was complicated for him. I hope to see him at Madrid in the future. As a Real Madrid fan, I will sign Mbappé tomorrow.”
This is what Nadal had to say about Mbappe being linked with Real Madrid yet again. Given the PSG attacker’s pedigree in terms of scoring goals, one has to imagine that there will be many takers for the French soccer star in Spain’s capital.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi on Kylian Mbappe’s transfer
Ben Jacobs has reported that PSG’s position regarding Kylian Mbappe is clear. The French club will not sanction the sale of the 24-year-old forward in January at any cost. In the summer transfer window, however, there’s reportedly a discussion to be had regarding Mbappe’s transfer. PSG might be open to discussing a transfer for the star so long as they are offered the right price.
Firm denials to reports Kylian Mbappe will tell PSG he is leaving at the end of the season and do so before the New Year. PSG position with Mbappe is clear: there will be no January exit and a summer move will only be sanctioned at the right price. pic.twitter.com/Z4bksdNdQp
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 21, 2022
One of the reasons behind Mbappe’s contract extension till 2025 was to protect his transfer value. PSG signed the attacker from Monaco for $191 million. Therefore, the club expects to sell him for a massive profit.
Jacobs has reported that Nasser Al-Khelaifi is happy with Mbappe at PSG. Khelaifi believes that Mbappe is happy at the club, something that the Frenchman has reiterated since signing the new deal till 2025. It had also been reported by Fabrizio Romano that Mbappe was happy at PSG after his contract extension and he was gunning to win titles with PSG.
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi on Kylian Mbappé: “Kylian has extended the contract with PSG and we’re all happy with that”, tells Marca. 🚨🔴🔵 #PSG pic.twitter.com/gowluW5nfb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 28, 2022
Speaking to reporters after the World Cup final on the question of the futures of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, here’s what Khelaifi told reporters: “Will we keep Messi and Mbappe? Of course. They are the two best players in the World Cup. I don’t want to say anything more about Leo, we have an agreement to talk after the World Cup.”
Time will tell whether PSG will be able to hold on to their attacking trio of Neymar-Mbappe-Messi. With the January transfer window just around the corner, it will be interesting to see where the Mbappe saga leads on this occasion.