Real Madrid News
Real Madrid prime target has decided to renew his contract with PSG, announcement scheduled for May
In a matter of days, all of Real Madrid’s hard work over the past two years seems to have been undone. The plan to bring Kylian Mbappe to the Santiago Bernabeu was one of football’s worst kept secrets and was even considered to be a completed deal by many.
In football, there can always be a new twist until the official announcement is made. That is what has happened in the case of Mbappe.
According to reports from Hadrien Grenier, the Frenchman has decided to renew his contract at Parc des Princes. The official announcement, however, will only happen in May.
This would mean that the prodigy would no longer be a free agent in the summer. Paris Saint-Germain would undoubtedly look to keep the star in France for years to come, and any party interested in his signing would have to pay a hefty sum.
This puts the Galacticos in a tricky situation. Shelling out over €150 million on Mbappe would hamper their plans of strengthening the defence and midfield. Yet, it would give them one of the strongest forward lines in the football world.
In 26 Ligue One starts, Mbappe has scored 17 goals while providing 13 assists. He averages four shots and two key passes per game. Needless to say, he is the spine of the current PSG team.
The Parisiens are said to be offering the 23-year-old a yearly wage north of €50 million, double Real Madrid’s proposed salary. It remains to be seen if Los Blancos re-enter with a higher figure.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
