Kylian Mbappe has informed PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi about his decision to leave the club as a free agent, with the terms of his departure still to be fully agreed, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano.
Mbappe signed a new two-year contract in the summer of 2021 that included a 12-month extension clause for the 2024-25 season with a loyalty bonus speculated to be around €80 million (£69m/$86m).
With his departure, the 25-year-old will put an end to a seven-year run that has solidified his place as the one of most coveted strikers in the world.
Real Madrid has long been interested in signing Mbappé since his breakthrough season in 2016–17 where the then-teenager led Monaco to secure their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years with 26 goals in all competitions.
However, the Spanish powerhouses have not yet finalised a deal, leaving options wide open with Premier League teams expressing interest.
🔴⚪️ Would you be interested in Kylian Mbappé even if we already know where he’s going?
Arteta: “You know?!”. 😄
“When there is a player of that calibre, we always have to be in that conversation, but as you said, it looks in a different way”. 👀🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/531UmNpoVa
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 16, 2024
Even though Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez expressed dissatisfaction after Mbappe changed his mind on joining Real Madrid last season it’s believed that Perez is still keen on the arrival of the France captain.
With the playing style of Madrid this season with only two wingers (Vinicius and Rodryo) and four midfielders, one can tell Madrid would need another young striker to play through the middle which Kylian Mbappe suits the profile they’d be looking for. The speed and flair of these two wingers can help complement the speed, finishing and decisiveness of Mbappe when it comes to deciding moments in matches.
In an interview with Movistar+, La Liga chief Tebas revealed he expects Mbappe to become the league’s latest superstar next year.
“Convinced, no, but it is a destiny for him, for sure. I think he will be in La Liga next season at 70 or 80%,” Tebas said.
Since the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, Madrid have been without a player who comes in clutch when a win is needed as well as a player who has a big profile to boost not just on-field but also the financials and brand image of the club.
Following Ronaldo’s arrival in 2009, Real Madrid boasted the sale of over 1.2 million shirts, Further sales of other Ronaldo-branded merchandise had pulled in around £100m. With Kylian Mbappé’s anticipated arrival, fans and football enthusiasts can anticipate comparable financial success, driven by shirt sales, brand deals, and an overall boost in the club’s value.