Real Madrid have a deadline for Mbappé: January 15 2024

Real Madrid’s pursuit of Kylian Mbappé is still on hold, but the deadlines are closing in and one of the dates marked in red in Florentino Pérez’s calendar is fast approaching: January 1 2024. With just days to go before the 2024 deadline, the Parisian forward has not yet renewed his contract with PSG, which officially expires on June 30 next year. Madrid have not moved their chess pieces and do not intend to do so until January 1, provided that Mbappé holds off until then from extending his contract with PSG and the powerful Qatari owners.

Once January 1 is reached, Madrid will launch their offensive for Kylian, knowing that from that moment on the law would support the Spanish club and leave PSG powerless from doing anything to prevent negotiations. It is a situation that has occurred since January 1, 2022, but it is clear that on that occasion Mbappé was stalling Los Blancos, talking a good game but refusing to sign “to avoid an angry reaction from PSG ultras”.

Real Madrid will give Mbappé a deadline

It must be remembered that in Madrid everything had been set up to seal the signing of Kylian, as the club were aware of the decision made by the player himself to put all his traffic lights on green in order to land in the Spanish capital that summer. But the draw for the Champions League Round of 16 was as fate would have it and put both teams against one another, something which forced a delay of a few months for the signature that ultimately never came.

Florentino will not allow history to repeat itself and to that end the club are pulling the strings with a cool, calculated head. When Madrid call Fayza Lamari, the player’s mother and the driving force behind all his contracts and financial agreements, on January 1, they will let her know that her son has 15 days to respond to Madrid’s offer. No more doubts or long exchanges will be admitted. Mbappé will have 15 days, more than enough time to tell Madrid: “yes, I do”.

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Real Madrid do not trust verbal agreements

Those 15 days are considered more than enough for the Parisian star to take a definitive position. In fact, Kylian saying goodbye to the 2023 without signing a renewal with PSG would be the biggest sign that he is indeed serious about moving on. What are no longer valid are verbal agreements or words. Lamari’s lawyer, the one who handles the player’s paperwork and all the necessary documents, will receive the offer; if Mbappé accepts the proposal from the 14-time European champions (with a lower wage than what he earns at PSG), the club can be calm at the Bernabéu for the remainder of the season.

Real Madrid fans have lost count of the number of times that their club have fought for the signing of Kylian Mbappé. Ever since 2017, when his transfer from Monaco to Madrid for €180 million was about to be sealed (the Mbappé family pulled the plug when Madrid decided against selling Bale to Manchester United), there have been several unsuccessful attempts to get him out of the Parc des Princes.

Mbappé is Plan A, but Madrid have Plan B ready to go

The fact is that the years are passing for everyone and next Wednesday, the 20th, Kylian will be 25-years-old, an age far removed from the age with which Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde and Camavinga arrived (18), as well as Bellingham (19), Militão and Benzema (21), or even Cristiano (24). Kylian is no longer a child.

If Mbappé were to drag his heels with the offer and remain undecided after the January 15 deadline, Madrid would close the chapter with the Frenchman and activate Plan B: Erling Haaland. The Norwegian would gladly accept to reunite with his friend Jude Bellingham (they played together at Dortmund), and experience Spanish culture. He has a house in Marbella and escapes there every time Pep Guardiola gives him a couple of days off. Madrid, if things don’t go to plan, certainly have a Plan B.