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Despite a recent wave of reports on Kylian Mbappe’s future, it still seems we’re some way off anything final in terms of a decision on a move to Real Madrid or staying at PSG.
There’s been some understandable excitement about this story and things possibly being close, but I don’t think it makes much sense for Mbappe to be announcing anything now, when there’s so much left of the season still to go. So whether Mbappe stays at PSG or goes to Real Madrid, or elsewhere for argument’s sake, it will be quite difficult to keep a lid on it.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi had quite an eventful day at the UEFA Summit last week and when he was asked about Mbappe’s future he said that when he and Mbappe both decided then there would be some communication on it. I think at the moment Mbappe is waiting to see how the second half of the season plays out at PSG, and also seeing how Real Madrid are doing.
With Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti made some interesting comments suggesting he didn’t need Mbappe, and though of course it would be controversial if he did the opposite and named him as one of his top six players in the world, the comments suggested that Real Madrid are not exactly openly bating Mbappe in public, which suggests there is still quite a bit going on in the background. We know Mbappe had an injury scare as well, resting for the game against Lille at the weekend, and the feeling overall is that we’re still unlikely to hear anything, at the very earliest, before some time in March – when PSG know the outcome of their two-legged tie with Real Sociedad and if they’re still top of Ligue 1. It could be that we’ll be made to wait even longer.
As I’ve previously reported, it is also worth considering the possibility that Mbappe will allow his contract to run out completely, with an agreement being found with Real Madrid without the pressure of still being a PSG player. It could then be arranged for Mbappe to meet up with the Madrid squad once the Olympics are over – he’s been clear about his desire to play in the Olympics, and should he join Real there would be two or even three months when he’d technically be under contract at the Bernabeu but unable to play. That’s a lot of money…
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