Mbappé further away from Real Madrid than ever, says Valdano
Real Madrid should not expect to be in the running for Kylian Mbappé, despite the France star's heroics as PSG thrashed Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappé is "further away from Real Madrid than ever before" despite slaying Barcelona, according to former Santiago Bernabeu sporting director Jorge Valdano.
Mbappe netted a stunning hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain thrashed an overmatched Barca 4-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.
Such a performance will undoubtedly further endear the France forward to the Madrid faithful and he has been frequently linked with a move to the Spanish capital.
The 22-year-old's contract at PSG expires at the end of next season, however Valdano believes his Camp Nou heroics have given him leverage to demand the sort of wage only the Ligue 1 giants are in a position to afford.
"After this, Mbappé is further from Real Madrid than ever before," the ex-Argentina international told Onda Cero.
"He can ask for a €30 million salary, the same as Neymar, and only PSG can offer that amount."
Another factor in Mbappé's favour, Valdano suggested, was that a forlorn Lionel Messi - who opened the scoring from the penalty spot - might now hold less appeal when his Barca deal expires in June and PSG consider how they might fill their ample budget.
"I don’t see PSG very interested right now in swapping Mbappé for Messi," he said. "Mbappé changed the scale of values ."
Haaland the Kempes of the 21st century
Valdano feels Madrid should turn their attention to Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, whose prolific exploits remind him of Argentina's 1978 World Cup hero.
"Mbappé is more complete than Haaland, but I think Madrid needs a scorer like the Norwegian," he added.
"Haaland is the Mario Kempes of the 21st century."