According to one former Paris Saint-Germain player with sources inside the club, Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid is “just a question of time” and that a deal was practically done before the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to all football activities.
“I know from club sources that a deal to take Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid was almost done,” Jérôme Rothen told Radio Montecarlo (via Goal). “But with what has been happening, I’m sure Mbappé’s arrival at Real Madrid will be postponed.”
“There is no way that Mbappé will extend his contract with PSG. They will have an agreement between them in place because PSG agreed to let him go this summer. In my opinion, it’s just a question of time.”
Mbappé is under contract at PSG until 2022, so any deal for the Frenchman right now would have to be for a record-breaking transfer fee. If what Rothen said is true, I’d love to know what that number was.
The global health crisis has caused financial hardships for many football clubs and PSG and Real Madrid are not immune. So, it makes sense that if a deal was close to being done that it’s now being put on hold as teams assess the damage to their cash reserves.
It may be true that Mbappé will not extend his contract with PSG but that doesn’t mean he will be allowed to leave before the end of his contract. Some speculate that PSG will not sell for any price and they would rather let their superstar leave in a couple of years for free than sell early to Real Madrid.
Also contradicting Rothen’s source inside the club is the fact that the Emir of Qatar, the one who really calls the shots at PSG, apparently doesn’t want Mbappé leaving for any reason this summer.
“Come wind, snow or rain, Mbappé will stay, that is the Emir’s desire,” a source close to the Emir said.
The timing of the apparent deal seems odd as well. Before football was shut down last month due to the coronavirus, PSG had defeated Borussia Dortmund to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and they had an opportunity to win Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Coupe de la Ligue. We’re supposed to believe that during all of this success that Mbappé’s representatives were negotiating his departure? Seems unlikely.
Not even the most passionate PSG supporter believes that Mbappé will remain at PSG for the duration of his career. He will leave France at some point, but it definitely won’t be this summer and depending on the success of the club, especially in the Champions League, I believe he could sign an extension.
Rothen may want to ask his sources some follow-up questions before jumping on the radio and spreading rumors.
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