The last few days have moved behind the scenes of European football as they mark the end of a “soap opera” that dragged on for years and took over the sports news.
Kylian Mbappé finally communicated to the Paris Saint Germain who will leave the club when his current contract expires, which will happen at the end of this season.
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This is a significant step on the star’s path to becoming another galactic in the world. Real Madridrealizing a mutual dream.
If you think we’ve been at this point before, you’re right: Mbappé could have chosen Madrid before signing for PSG in 2017.
This could have already happened in mid-2021, when PSG rejected a series of proposals, or in 2022, when everyone – including Mbappé and Real Madrid – were convinced he would sign a free transfer before giving in to pressure from the French to renew. your contract.
In June 2023, Mbappé’s revelation that he would no longer extend his current contract, meaning he will be free on the market in 2024, left Real Madrid hopeful for a deal. Still, however, the star remained in Paris.
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This resulted in more months of speculation before the ESPN reported, on February 3, that the player was finally ready to confirm his long-awaited departure, with Madrid being the likely destination.
Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappé are in negotiationswith the Spanish club optimistic of reaching an agreement soon.
Meanwhile, the ESPN examines the player’s decision-making process over the past few months to assess the impacts for everyone involved.
Mbappé’s perspective: how he finally made his decision
On paper, it may seem like an easy decision.
Mbappé, born in Paris, spent seven seasons at PSG and won everything he could with the team on the national stage, as the five titles do French Championship.
The star also tried to win the dream title of Champions Leaguecoming close in 2020, when it lost to Bayern Munchen in the decision. He broke virtually every possible individual club record, including becoming the greatest scorer in history of the club, with 244 goals.
Now, at 25 years old, Mbappé is ready to join Real Madrid.
Ready to move on to the biggest club in the world.
For the club that has been chasing him since he was 11 years old.
Easy, right? Not so much if you’re Mbappé. Or a member of his family.
Kylian Mbappé upon arrival at Parque dos Príncipes for the match between PSG x Lorient, in the French Championship Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
Paris is their home. PSG is the club they love, where Kylian arrived in 2017 and where he became the player he is today. The relationship between the Mbappé family and the club’s owners has not always been good, to say the least.
The star was removed from the starting lineup and sent to train alone for two weeks, also missing part of pre-season after telling the club that he would not activate the option for a third season in his current contract.
There was often tension: Mbappé didn’t get along with Brazilian Leonardothe former sporting director, especially in the face of a team that continued to fall short against rivals within Europe, despite the abundant resources available for signings.
Mbappé also entered a “collision course” with Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of the club, at a time of tension due to the striker’s contractual situation.
After Mbappé wrote to the club in June 2023 about his intentions not to extend another deal, PSG publicly admitted they would listen to proposals.
During coach Luis Enrique’s presentation in July last year, Al-Khelaifi spoke clearly about PSG’s position in relation to their star: “I don’t want to repeat this every time: if Kylian wants to stay, we want him to stay. But he needs to sign a new contract. We don’t want to lose the best athlete in the world for free. We can not do that. [Mbappé] Said it would never be free. If he changes his mind today, it’s not my fault. We don’t want to lose the best player in the world for free, that’s very clear.”
These are just examples of a relationship that was not always peaceful, although he is happy in the Princes Park. Furthermore, his brother Ethan, 17, made his professional debut this year and will be part of the squad next season, and is expected to sign a new contract soon.
The Mbappés’ life in Paris is good.
His big family is there: Kylian gets to see his niece and nephew grow up. He also has two of his best football friends, Ashraf Hakimi e Ousmane Dembéléalongside him in the PSG starting lineup.
Mbappé, Neymar and Cavani celebrate PSG’s goal in the French Championship Getty Images
When Mbappé met with Al-Khelaifi last week telling him personally that he had decided to leave the club, the French star asked him not to make things more difficult by trying to convince him to stay.
Two years ago, Al-Khelaifi made the right move and managed to win over Mbappé, offering decision-making power at the club. This allowed him to replace Leonardo with his friend Luis Campos as sporting director, in addition to participating in discussions about transfers and signings. And he becomes the club’s penalty taker instead of Neymar.
In essence, it placed the French striker at the center of the club’s negotiations, as well as giving him the biggest contract ever seen in European football.
There was none of that this time. The French star didn’t want to have feelings involved, otherwise it would have been more difficult to decide. “He made it clear this time that there would be no comeback. He had already made up his mind, the choice was his, the right choice at the right time and there would be no way back,” added a source heard by ESPN.
In the end, the force of history will take Mbappé to Madrid.
From a young age he wanted to wear the famous white shirt and play at the Bernabéu. He felt this is the perfect time.
As we said just before, we were at this same stage years ago. Now, however, is categorically the right time.
The French league is probably too small for Kylian’s talent, and in European competitions over the years, PSG have shown their limitations.
Mbappé on the bench during the game between PSG and Nantes, in Ligue 1 EFE/EPA/Franco Arland
Mbappé wants to lift the long-awaited Champions League trophy, and only twice in his time at the club did PSG reach the round of 16 in Europe’s main club competition, even giving the star teammates like Neymar and Messi along these years.
When it comes to individual awards, Mbappé also wants to win the Ballon d’Orand knows that he will have a better chance of doing so in Madrid with Vinicius Jr. e Jude Bellingham at his side on the field, as well as Carlo Ancelotti in charge.
As negotiations continue, Mbappé is “very excited” about the change, sources told ESPN.
Conversations take place between his mother, Fayza, his lawyers and the two clubs. PSG is on one side, discussing the conditions of his departure and the bonuses he will give up (among 80 million euros e 100 million euros), while Real Madrid works on the details of his new contract.
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2024-02-21 14:00:00
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