Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have been in contact with Mbappe’s entourage multiple times this season – report
It is becoming increasingly clear that there is trouble in paradise between PSG and Kylian Mbappe. The 24-year-old superstar snubbed an opportunity to sign for Real Madrid last summer and renewed his contract with Les Parisiens.
But ever since, signs of trouble have been brewing. Reports about his discontentment over the club’s transfer policy surfaced early in the season while more recently PSG’s exit from the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 served to fuel the fire further.
Only earlier this week, Mbappe lashed out at the club for using clips from an interview in promoting season ticket sales for the next season.
Mbappe’s current contract with PSG expires next year and even though there is an option to extend it by another year, the clause can be triggered with the consent of the player and not unilaterally by the club.
Amidst this, Mario Cortegana of The Athletic (h/t Madrid Zone) is reporting that Real Madrid have been in contact with the entourage of Mbappe on multiple occasions over the course of the ongoing campaign.
Furthermore, the journalist states that Mbappe has told his camp that he still dreams of playing for Real Madrid at some point in his career, despite having snubbed them at the last moment last summer.
Los Blancos, for their part, have been keeping close tabs on the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner’s situation, but are not planning to make any approach this summer.
The only way Real Madrid will consider signing Mbappe is if the forward himself makes the initial approach, that too in 2024, when his contract will expire and he would become available for free.
What seems to be clear is that there continues to be mutual interest and admiration between Mbappe and Real Madrid, although the latter are wary about the move after being burned last summer.
But if Mbappe decides against extending with PSG, a transfer to Real Madrid next year could become a serious possibility.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
