Real Madrid News
Real Madrid still retain an interest in Kylian Mbappe; PSG could sell if the price is right
It has been around six months since Kylian Mbappe signed a new conract with PSG, but his future at the French club has become a subject of major debate once again.
The 23-year-old looked set to join Real Madrid as a free agent in the summer but did a last-minute swerve and renewed with PSG.
However, reports in recent weeks have been suggesting that all is not well between the attacking superstar and the club, despite manager Christophe Galtier and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi denying those claims.
And, now The Athletic is reporting that Les Parisiens could be open to sanctioning Mbappe’s sale in the summer of 2023 if the price is right.
This is because even though PSG framed the forward’s new contract to be a three-year renewal, it is, in essence, just a two-year deal with an option for a further twelve-month extension, which must be mutually agreed upon.
So, in effect, Mbappe could very well be entering the final year of his contract with PSG next summer. And PSG are predicting a developing market for his signing in 2023.
Considering that they could lose Mbappe for nothing in 2024 if he does not agree to a further 12-month renewal, they are determined to avoid such a possibility, especially after having rejected a massive €180 million offer from Real Madrid last year.
So, if the price is right – a potential world-record fee – Les Parisiens would be open to selling the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner. And the report from The Athletic insists that Real Madrid still retain an interest in Mbappe, despite how things panned out this past summer.
Los Blancos looked all set to sign the 23-year-old as a free agent, only to be left red-faced by his last-minute U-turn. So, it has been reported that there is some apprehension with regard to any plans about reigniting their interest in him.
However, The Athletic claims that there is some degree of interest from the Spanish and European champions.
Liverpool and Manchester United have been credited with an interest in Mbappe in the past but are unlikely to be in the reckoning for varying reasons.
It is further claimed that part of PSG’s strategy to convince Mbappe to stay this past summer was convincing him that he is still young and can play for Real Madrid in the future.
Whether such a move materialises in the next summer remains to be seen, especially considering that Real Madrid have plans to sign Jude Bellingham who will also command a huge transfer fee.
It is astounding that despite being the biggest club in Spain, Real Madrid do not have many Spanish players to show for it.
Los Blancos do indeed boast of a special diversity in the dressing room, but their lack of locally trained players could pose problems according to MARCA.
The Spanish outlet confirms that UEFA does not mandate the inclusion of any minimum number of locally grown players for a club. However, the Spanish federation stipulates that a club in Spain must boast of at least eight players who meet a specific set of conditions.
Of the aforementioned eight candidates, there must be at least four players who have spent three seasons or 36 months at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
Currently, only Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Mariano make up the required number on that front.
The problem, however, arises with the condition for the other four players in the list of eight. RFEF stipulates that the second set of four players must have completed at least 36 months in teams attached to the federation of Spain between the ages of 15 and 21.
Only Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos tick the aforementioned box. However, all four players have uncertain futures at the club and are well-placed to depart in the summer.
There are thus big decisions to be taken over the transfer strategy for June. Real Madrid can work ways to ship all four players out, it would require the re-integration of players like Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez or Fran Garcia to ensure the fulfilment of the criteria.
With both Vallejo and Odriozola seemingly frozen out of Ancelotti’s plans, their departures from Santiago Bernabeu appear inevitable. Thus, the management could be forced to renew one of Asensio or Ceballos come June.
