There are explosive updates regarding one of the highest profile athletes on the planet, Kylian Mbappe.
Football transfer journo Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the Frenchman will not take up his contract option with Paris Saint-Germain; Mbappe’s deal will expire June 2024. So that means the clock is officially ticking for PSG to figure something out.
He will turn 25 in December 2023 and has played for the Paris-based superpower since the 2017-18 season, having scored close to 150 goals across all competitions.
🚨 Kylian Mbappé has informed PSG of his decision: he’ll NOT trigger the option to extend current contract until 2025, it means that deal would expire next June 2024 — as L’Équipé called.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 12, 2023
PSG position: NO plan to lose Kylian for free.
Sign new deal now or he could be sold. pic.twitter.com/fDpSKOmxsf
Where there’s smoke there’s generally fire, as we all know, and the smoke started billowing when PSG were again unceremoniously removed from Champions League contention in March by Bayern Munich. Mbappe is a World Cup winner and, while he’s a Paris product, he’d like to also tick Europe’s major club championship off his career wish list — kind of like former club team mate Lionel Messi, but in reverse. And given the Argentinian is now off to Inter Miami, PSG’s title chances have clicked into reverse gear.
It became evident that Mbappe had a huge decision to make, as calls grew louder for him to chase his Champions League dreams elsewhere.
And that’s where the elephant in the room enters: where should he go next? Here are the most realistic outcomes.
Mbappe to Real Madrid?
Real Madrid’s essentially been banging the table for a shot at signing Kylian Mbappe in recent years and now the Spanish club are closer than ever.
Messi isn’t the only superstar exiting the continent this summer; striker Karim Benzema leaves a huge hole up front that Real Madrid will need to fill. Who better than Kylian?
The Champions League’s most successful club has been linked to Harry Kane as another potential Benzema replacement, with the English 10’s future now somewhat up in the air, in what’s a pivotal situation for new coach Ange Postecoglou to address.
But it’s clear Mbappe will now become Real Madrid’s priority; he’s firmly in his prime and five years on Kane. And there’s now a clearer path for the Frenchman to defect; any divorce between Kane and Spurs will take careful public relations engineering — a situation not many landing spot clubs will have the patience for.
Mbappe to Manchester United?
How about a move to the English Premier League? That’d be fun.
If there’s one thing Manchester United is known for, it’s going after big fish. United’s season – for the most part – showed promising signs, after large drama early in the campaign. Under Glazer ownership, the club’s been known to prioritise marketability over maximising win probability. Well, the beauty with Mbappe is you get both.
Kylian Mbappé saga on again 🔛🇫🇷
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 12, 2023
◉ Situation very tense, club furious;
◉ PSG surprised with Kylian timing;
◉ Club has contingency plan in case he leaves now;
◉ NO chance to leave for free;
◉ PSG did not expect leaks as talks were ongoing.
🎥 https://t.co/gMwaz1G1rI pic.twitter.com/fM4LH8NBP0
Mbappe to stay at PSG?
While the most enjoyable part of a situation like this is speculating and visualising a star player in a new location, don’t sleep on the less interesting but unsurprising scenario of Mbappe staying put in Paris.
While there’s talk of tension between player and club, bridges can be built and wounds healed. Particularly with this much at stake.
PSG will reportedly listen to offers for Mbappe; ultimately, the club will not want to lose their star for nothing next summer when he becomes a free agent. While the club will start losing leverage as June ’24 approaches, it will likely take a world record transfer fee to land the French megastar — it’s coincidentally Paris Saint-Germain that holds that mantle after forking out $AUD353 million in 2017 for Neymar, from Barcelona.
It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that the Mbappe-PSG situation settles down, they get in a room with agents and thrash out a fresh deal to keep the local product at home for the long-term. But we’ll welcome any incoming drama, of course.
