Super League failure could halt Real Madrid move for Mbappé
Florentino Pérez launched a message of optimism about his signing on El Chiringuito, but was rather more pessimistic two days later on El Larguero.
In his appearance on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez was questioned about a summer move for PSG star Kylian Mbappé. "People shout at me 'Presi, sign him!'," the president of the failed European Super League said. Pérez appeared relaxed about the Mbappé intrigue.
When it comes to big-name signings at Madrid, Pérez doesn't get overly excited. The same happened in 2017, when Cristiano Ronaldo was set to leave Real Madrid a year before he eventually left. As Pérez celebrated his re-election as Madrid president, a journalist asked him if Cristiano would leave that summer. "I'm calm," he replied, with an identical smile to the Mbappé question on El Chiringuito.
Operation Mbappé
Pérez's peace of mind is that, as with the renewal of Sergio Ramos, it is a case he controls directly. José Ángel Sánchez manages the day-to-day running of the club from his position as general manager, but the final word on strategy rests with Florentino. And as AS published just a year ago, Mbappé was to become the next galático signing for Madrid in 2021.
Super League setback
The optimism shown by the president on El Chiringuito changed dramatically two days later, when he appeared on Cadena SER's El Larguero radio program. Host of the show, Manu Carreño, asked him if it was possible to sign big stars like Mbappé or Haaland without the Super League going ahead: "It will not happen without the Super League. Neither for Madrid nor for anyone else," he said.
Whether there is an immediate financial injection from the Super League or not, the club believes it has a powerful negotiating position against PSG with the star's refusal to renew. It has been reported earlier this week that Mbappé has been looking at property in Madrid. It remains to be seen if the France international leaves Ligue 1 for LaLiga to work under his idol Zinedine Zidane.