Real Madrid have been trying to land Kylian Mbappe for years and now they have finally found the right man.
The 25-year-old Frenchman’s signing was confirmed on Monday, more than two years after they last tried to sign him.
In May 2022, Mbappe dramatically rejected a transfer to Madrid and decided at the last minute to renew his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. This time, things are going much smoother and everyone in Madrid is very excited about the arrival of one of the best players in the world, especially as the team that just won the club’s 15th European Cup/Champions League is already full of young players genius.
But that doesn’t mean the free-agent move isn’t without intrigue, or entirely without opposition.
This is the complete story of how Real Madrid finally signed Mbappe.
The beginning of 2024 marks the beginning of the end.
In early January, at Madrid’s Valdebebas training center – where the club’s offices are also located – it was agreed that Mbappe would be given a final try.
Several meetings were held about the matter, but some senior figures in Madrid were not convinced it was a good idea.
The idea behind this is twofold. First, after Mbappe was rejected two years ago, there were fears that the club’s interests could be compromised again. Others simply thought the timing was wrong – for both sporting and financial reasons.
Some prefer to be more cautious about the club’s finances – which remain healthy despite a massive revamp of the Santiago Bernabeu, which will cost at least €1.3bn (£1.1bn; $1.4bn at current exchange rates ).
Some believe that having Mbappe as the highest-paid player at a time when the vast majority of his new team-mates have won more trophies for the club could affect the positive atmosphere in the dressing room. Some believe Real Madrid can do just fine without him – especially with the arrival of 17-year-old Brazilian Ndrick and the team already performing well.
In short: There is a sense that Madrid’s plans are working perfectly well without Mbappe.
But considering the above factors, club president Florentino Perez still decided to try again. The meeting also decided that Mbappe will have a deadline to respond to this new proposal, with terms that will be lower than the 2022 deadline. Mbappe was offered a six-season contract with a signing bonus of €130 million, according to sources familiar with the previous negotiations – who like all sources cited in this article preferred to speak anonymously to protect relationships. , with an annual salary of 26 million euros.
Mbappe took his first steps without consulting PSG on January 3, pausing to speak to reporters after PSG beat Toulouse in the Champions League – a game that The match is between the French Ligue 1 champion and the French Cup winner last season, just like the match between the French Ligue 1 champion and the French Cup winner last season.
“In 2022, I don’t know my decision until May,” Mbappe said in response to a question about his future. It’s the start of a new year and he’s now entering the final six months of his contract. Feel free to negotiate with teams.
“If I knew what I wanted to do, I shouldn’t delay the decision. It doesn’t make any sense.
Meanwhile, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said the club wanted him to stay: “He is the best player in the world and the best for him is PSG. He is the heart of the project. I ask that everyone please let Kellyanne rest in peace.
Kylian Mbappe with his Champions League winners’ medal (Christian Livig – Corbis/Getty Images)
Mbappe’s words have been interpreted positively in the Spanish capital, with Madrid already working on the details of the offer. When their offer reached the player’s entourage in the coming days, the club announced that his salary (the offer was slightly higher than those of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham) and signing-on fee would Making him their highest-paid player.
Throughout this process, Perez has maintained regular contact with Mbappe, which is unusual for the Madrid president. Normally, his right-hand man, Director General José Ángel Sánchez, conducts the negotiations. Mbappe told Perez he was keen on a move. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have insisted they have no interest in the player by briefing the media on the situation. But the reality is completely different—— Competitor Reported many times.
Sanchez travels to Paris ahead of Madrid’s participation in the four-club Spanish Super Cup tournament, which takes place in Saudi Arabia from January 10 to 14. He came back full of optimism – another good sign since he’s usually cautious and very controlled.
By the end of that month, everyone in Madrid was convinced the deal would be done. But still no final agreement has been reached. Some people close to Mbappe were not as aware of the move as he was.
Perez pictured during a match in Madrid in January (Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
It is reported Competitor In mid-February, some influential members of his entourage were unconvinced by the offer, which was less than his salary at PSG and could earn him money from another potential suitor.
During the meeting with Perez, the president outlined how signing with Madrid would take the player’s profile to another sporting and marketing level, which would help bring in more personal income. With a few exceptions, such as Vinicius Jr., image rights in Madrid are usually split 50 percent between the club and 50 percent among the players, although Mbappe’s share is expected to be in his favor.
PSG sources still believe Mbappe is likely to leave. They recall how he decided last summer not to opt out of staying for another year and know that he has expressed his admiration for Madrid on several occasions.
But these sources also explained that PSG felt “financially protected”. They described an agreement in principle with Mbappe that would see the club receive financial compensation if he leaves when his contract expires on June 30. circumstances, including the French captain giving up some of the loyalty bonuses he had received. Mbappe himself has spoken of his departure as being “protected on all sides” and discussions are still ongoing.
It remains to be seen what, if any, agreement Mbappe and PSG have reached in this regard. But the Ligue 1 champions have tried to stress that any departure of the forward after the end of the 2023-24 season would not be a “free transfer” in their eyes.
Kylian Mbappe and Al-Khelaifi, pictured after Paris Saint-Germain won the French Cup (Franck Fife/AFP, Getty Images)
Then a key development occurred.
On Tuesday, February 13, in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, Real Madrid faced Red Bull Leipzig away from home. Senior figures at the club travel with inside information. They have been told that Mbappe will inform PSG of his decision to leave at the end of the season.
The news was not made public until Thursday, but with Madrid still in Germany, the club’s board informed manager Carlo Ancelotti. Without being informed whether Mbappe has actually signed a contract, the Italian knows he can count on having the striker in his squad for next season.
Around ten days later, Mbappe was spotted on Spanish soil, but in Barcelona rather than Madrid, enjoying a few days’ rest. a source told Competitor He first went to Beijing to sign a contract.
It wasn’t until this week, in early June, that two more sources shared more information about the February talks. They said it was then that Mbappe’s transfer was confirmed.
The final stages of the negotiations were conducted in high secrecy. Real Madrid do prefer it to work that way, but sources involved in the deal also said that Mbappe’s mother and agent Feiza Lamari asked for no leaks at all in order to give her son a chance to play his final months at PSG. Protect as much as possible.
Mbappe played 48 games for Paris Saint-Germain last season and scored 44 goals (Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Tensions ensued between Mbappe and PSG, with head coach Luis Enrique occasionally replacing him or leaving him out entirely. “We have to get used to playing without him,” the Spaniard said in March.
On March 1, after Mbappe was substituted at half-time of a 0-0 away draw with Monaco (his first professional club), Mbappe sat in the stands with his family rather than with his teammates. Sitting on the bench together. Watching the rest of the game a few rows away were PSG board members, and there were reports of heated conversations between them and his mother. Real Madrid and the player’s camp believe PSG is punishing Mbappe by reducing his playing time. Sources at the French club believe this is untrue.
The game is coming to an end but the fact that PSG and Real Madrid are still competing in the Champions League adds to an entirely cautious strategy. However, three days after PSG were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, Mbappe made the decision to leave the public.
“After seven years I needed a new challenge,” he said, while thanking almost everyone at the club (most notably, without mentioning Al-Khelaifi) who had no idea it was coming.
Mbappe hopes to make the announcement before PSG’s final home game of the season on Sunday, May 12. BBQ with Mbappe) dedicated a huge amount of strength to him.
The following Monday, Le Parisien reported that Al-Khelaifi and Mbappe had an argument on the eve of the match, with the former accusing the latter of not mentioning him in his farewell film.
Thanks. 🔴🔵 @PSG_inside pic.twitter.com/t0cL2wPpjX
— Kylian Mbappe (@KMbappe) May 10, 2024
A PSG source strongly denied that this had happened, adding that an agreement with Mbappe over the financial terms of his departure was imminent.
Mbappe was named Ligue 1 player of the year for the fifth consecutive season late on Monday. In his acceptance speech, he did acknowledge Al-Khelaifi, who has reiterated in 2021, 2022 and 2023 that his star player will not leave PSG for free.
“The new chapter will be very exciting,” Mbappe said of his next step, without revealing the identity of his next club. “Maybe now’s not the time to find out (for everyone).”
It was always expected that the big news would be revealed after last Saturday’s Champions League final. Real Madrid don’t want anything, not even their biggest ever signing, to distract from such an important and elusive goal.
Earlier on Monday, two days after the club secured a record 15th European Cup/Champions League title, Competitor The announcement will reportedly be made this week.
Now it’s finally done – fans can excitedly look forward to seeing Mbappe in that famous white shirt.
A dream come true.
Very happy and proud to be part of my dream club @real Madrid I can’t explain how happy and excited I feel right now. I can’t wait to meet you, Madrileños, and thank you for your great support.
Hello Madrid! 🤍🤍🤍— Kylian Mbappe (@KMbappe) June 3, 2024
(Top: Getty Images; Design: Eamonn Dalton)
