TRANSFERS
Why Real Madrid target Mbappé wants to stay at PSG for one more year but not extend his contact
The LaLiga giants are the most interested onlookers as Mbappé and PSG play the ultimate game of transfer poker.
What does Kylian Mbappé really want? And what do Paris Saint-Germain really want? The questions that everyone wants to know the answer to, with Real Madrid the most interested party.
Just 12 months after signing a contract extension until 2024, which included the option of an additional year, Mbappé and PSG are back to where they started, with the Ligue 1 leaders ‘leaking’ their desire to sell their star player at all costs and the player publicly stating that he plans to see out the last year of his contract but that he won’t sign for an extra season until 2025.
PSG looking for quick answer from Mbappé
In France, it is widely accepted that PSG are looking to avoid another soap opera like the one in which they were involved in 2022. To make sure they do, they have told Mbappé's mother Fayza Lamari they want the player to make a quick decision on his future. If he does not extend his contract or show interest in extending it in the next few days, they will sell him, provided they receive a suitable offer.
How much do PSG want for Mbappé this summer?
The club’s Qatari owners, tired of being drawn into the same trap every summer, have put a €200 million ($219.3 million) price tag on Mbappé's head and are willing to let him go. According to French media outlet Foot-Mercato, negotiations have not yet begun with Real Madrid about a move this summer but the France captain does have an agreement in place to move to the Spanish capital in 2024, when he would be a free agent.
Why does Mbappé want to run his contract down?
Mbappé wants to remain in Paris for one more season in order not to miss out on a €70 million ($76.76 million) loyalty bonus, which would increase to €80 million ($87.72 million) and then €90 million ($98.69 million) were he to stay until 2024 and 2025 respectively. However, he isn’t thought to be completely against leaving this summer if PSG finally decide to go down the route, which has been suggested in the last few days.
Transfer poker
Are PSG bluffing and really willing to sell to the highest bidder, or is it simply a ploy to pressure Mbappé into extending his deal? Real Madrid are, of course, on red alert, while the French champions will not publicly announce that their star asset is available for transfer as they would then lose bargaining power. If the Qataris have proved one thing during their time in Paris, it’s that money is important to them.
PSG’s complicated relationships with stars
PSG have already been in the business of ‘hinting’ at selling star players before, of course. In 2019, then sporting director Leonardo public stated that they would sell Neymar back to Barcelona, but only “on PSG’s terms”. There was a similar situation 12 months later with Edinson Cavani, who appeared certain to join Atlético Madrid.
And most recently with Mbappé himself in August 2021. “Kylian promised us that he did not want to leave on a free transfer, so we will sell him, but only on our terms,” revealed Leonardo, who left the club in May 2022.
We are entering a decisive period in which a seemingly never-ending soap opera could finally reach its conclusion.