The biggest and the most anticipated transfer of the summer has now been decided with Kylian Mbappé having to give up on his long time dream of playing for Real Madrid as he is now set to put to pen another three year agreement work PSG Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid have waited for fours and planned a project with the 23-year old the only missing piece of the process, only for them to be let down in the final moments, when they had thought they had everything under control.
The decision of Mbappé’s future, became something more than the player himself had under control as the French club seek political help just so the forward could remain at the club.
Last summer, PSG refused to let him join Real Madrid, even though the Spanish giants tabled a lucrative offer for Les Parisien for a player with just a year left on his contract. PSG’s resistence has finally paid off as Mbappé will now sign a new contract.
Mbappé’s entourage had a big role to play in this decision even though the player was at a time left at crossed road. PSG have to seek the help of the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as well as that of France president, Emmanuel Macron to help persuade him to stay at the club.
According to Goal’s Mario Cortegana, there were a lot of pressures and even bad threats just so Mbappé could commit his future to the club and in the end, it was just his dream against his family, country and influential figures, with Real Madrid and Florentino Perez on the other side.
Real Madrid shares part of the blame for losing Mbappé to PSG. Since the turn of the year, the club can already persuade him to sign a pre contract agreement, which would have seen him become a madridsta once his contract ends with PSG in June.
However, feeling that they had the deal under control with Mbappé clearly keen to join, they decided to let it wait until the summer and that has now backfired.
Knowing that they are at risk of not pulling off the deal, they beams frustrated and at the same time desperate. They made him an offer they had never made to any player in the history of the club but that could not beat PSG’s ‘historic offer in sport’s history.’
Kylian Mbappé had made it known that his decision is not because of the money but it of course it is an avenue for his entourage to milk the two clubs and for some time, they had agreement with both Real Madrid and PSG.
A breakdown of Madrid’s offer for Mbappé:
• €30m in wages (net)
• €130m signing bonus
• 60-70% image rights (which is more than they gave to Cristiano Ronaldo)
Moreso, Madrid were ready to make him the most paid player in club’s history.
PSG however made the more ridiculous offer:
• Leader of the football project
• Big economic offer
• sporting 100% right
• Leader of the dressing room
• Decide on players he wishes
At this stage, it was already clear to Real Madrid that this is just more than efforts to sign a player and left it to Mbappé to decide, whilst they knew he had an agreement with, not knowing it is the same feeling PSG are nursing.
It is ridiculous how much PSG have done just to keep Mbappé in Paris and this does not speak good for the future of football.
Even if he wishes (to sign for Madrid), the decision regarding his future became something he can make base on his own wishes and in the end, the pressure employed by Paris Saint-Germain paid off.
They are the real winner. Not Mbappé. Not Real Madrid. And not even football.
Real Madrid had passed the chance to sign Erlin Haaland earlier due to the agreement with Mbappé and the Norwegian has now signed for Manchester City, meaning Los Blancos didn’t only lose Mbappé but Haaland as well.
It is a big blow to take but Mbappé will be more pained. Whilst waiting for Mbappé to come, they’ve found gold within their reach in Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes.
Apart from his age, Karim Benzema is arguably the best player on the planet and the club in general is doing good. Antonio Rüdiger will join as a free agent as well and Real could also add any player they wish this summer. Almost everyone wants to come. Even Kylian Mbappé.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
