With Real Madrid’s offer for Kylian Mbappé, PSG find themselves cornered

What if the Francis-Le Blé stadium in Brest was the last French lawn trampled by Kylian Mbappé in the jersey of Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG), on August 20? What if the French prodigy said his national farewell on Sunday evening, in Reims, on the third day of Ligue 1? The hypothesis has been gaining momentum since Monday evening. Announced by the British media Talksport and the Spanish program “El Chiringuito de Jugones”, the long-awaited offer from Real Madrid to recruit the French world champion arrived in the Parisian offices on Tuesday, August 24, in the evening.

According to information from The team, the envelope is 160 million euros. A proposal refused by the club of the capital, which is sticking to its positions. PSG have been pushing for months to retain the 22-year-old striker, whom he recruited in 2017 for 180 million euros. But negotiations to extend his contract expiring in June 2022 are still at a standstill, suggesting a departure of the Parisian number 7 before the end of the transfer window on August 31.

In an interview granted Wednesday to several media (including RMC Sport and The team), Leonardo, the club’s sporting director, confirmed Mbappé’s departure ambitions, but awaits a higher offer, while Paris “Still owes money to Monaco”. The Brazilian leader still opened the door to a departure – a first: “If a player wants to leave, he will leave. But it will be on our terms ”, he clarified. Before tackling the leaders of Real, believing that the behavior of the club was “Disrespectful, unacceptable and illegal”.

An offer refused, but a higher bid to come

“Everyone knows Kylian’s future. Kylian is Parisian, very competitive. He said he wanted a competitive team, now there is no more competitive [que le PSG]. He no longer has an excuse to do something else. “ During the presentation of Lionel Messi to PSG on August 11, the president of the club, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, had however tried to convince once again the former player of AS Bondy. As in all his media interventions, the Qatari leader did not want to leave any doubt about the player’s Parisian future.

The truth is no longer the same. Everything is in the hands of the “Mbappé clan”, who are said to be cold with Leonardo. “There is already an offer from Real: 160 million”, headline in Spain of the sports daily Marca, in unison with its competitor Ace, which is counting on future negotiations “Difficult”. Because the rejection of PSG was immediate.

“If a player wants to leave, he will leave. But it will be on our terms ”, clarified Leonardo, sports director of PSG

But not final? According to The team and sources familiar with the matter, the outbidding of the Madrid club could happen very quickly – the transfer window ending on August 31 – and reach 200 million euros. An offer that could make the Parisian club falter, which should pay 35 million euros to Monaco, the French star’s previous club. Because refusing it would probably mean a free start, without financial compensation next summer, and a huge snub for Qatar, fifteen months before its World Cup.

Mbappé, Neymar and Messi in training, at the Camp des loges, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, August 19, 2021.

According to Andrés Onrubia, French football specialist for the newspaper Ace, it would be more of a political failure than a sporting one:

“PSG would lose a great player, the center of their project, but the arrival of Messi changes the perspective. We can consider that, in the field, this is a gap that could be filled. It almost becomes a matter of pride for Al-Khelaïfi. Letting your flagship player go for free is not a good option either. “

On the Madrid side, Mbappé would represent the return to the forefront of a club used to shattering transfers, but remained calm for two years.

Read also With Messi at PSG, Qatar has a new “diplomatic weapon”

Real in good health

As Spanish football sinks into a major financial crisis, Real Madrid are in good economic health. The capital club has finished its last two years in the green (+ 313,000 euros and + 874,000 euros). No purchase has been made for two seasons and sales have boosted the coffers.

Recently, Raphaël Varane was transferred to Manchester United for 50 million euros, the Norwegian Martin Odegaard joined Arsenal for 40 million euros and the cash position of Real has reached 122 million euros. What to take again the “galactic” policy, according to Andrés Onrubia, reference to the 5 star cast of Real at the beginning of the years 2000 with in particular Luis Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo or David Beckham:

“Real don’t want to wait. They want to give hope to supporters who have lost their idols [Cristiano Ronaldo, en 2018, ou encore Sergio Ramos, qui vient de rejoindre le PSG]. Mbappé is synonymous with titles and income for Florentino Perez, the president of the institution. “

For its part, can PSG really afford to refuse Real’s proposals and risk losing Mbappé next year? Not really, according to Luc Arrondel, sports economist and research director at CNRS:

“If we talk about rational and economic management, Real’s offer of 160 million is hardly understandable for the player’s last year of contract. And it is just as surprising that PSG refuses, given the tense situation with the player. “

However, the Parisian club seems to be able to ensure its rear: “The arrival of Messi allows Qatar’s national branding strategy to continue and to be optimistic in the areas of ticketing, merchandising and sponsors”, emphasizes the economist.

According to Luc Arrondel, “PSG is going through the crisis with a state financial valve which allows it not to suffer too much”. And the market has found itself less regulated since the relaxation of financial fair play.

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While waiting for a second offer, Mbappé seems to have won part of his showdown with the leaders of the Parisian club. If PSG don’t change their mind, they could honor their contract and share a season with Messi and Neymar. Or, on the contrary, very quickly realize his white dream.

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