Various mainstream media sources in Europe claimed Real Madrid made a new, improved bid worth as much as $210 million to sign Kylian Mbappe. PSG previously confirmed it turned down $190 million for the 23-year-old superstar.
In a statement published close to midnight on Monday, Real said it didn’t make “any offer” to either PSG or to Mbappe. Real’s comment came after it was rumored that the Spanish club would stop waiting for PSG’s decision on Mbappe with a full day left until the transfer window closes.
“Given the information published in the last few hours regarding an alleged agreement between Real Madrid C.F. and PSG for the player Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid would like to state that it is completely false,” the Madrid giants stated. “Real Madrid has not made any offer to PSG or the player and condemns the spreading of this type of information that has not been proven by the parties concerned,” the release added.
Mbappe has less than 12 months left on his deal at Parc des Princes. If PSG doesn’t sell him today or during the January transfer window, at the latest, they will lose him for free next summer when he becomes a free agent.
Mbappe has been instrumental in PSG’s start this season, scoring three goals in three games so far. PSG won all three matches and sits first in the French Ligue 1. At the weekend, Mbappe scored both of PSG’s goals in the 2-0 away win in Reims, which saw Messi make his much-awaited debut for Paris’ glam club.
PSG, firmly denies any interest in selling
As sports director Leonardo Arujo put it, PSG’s priority is to keep Mbappe at the club for the remainder of his current contract, and longer, if possible.
PSG made several attempts to extend Mbappe’s deal, even promising him to earn as much as Neymar and Messi. There were at least three rounds of negotiations between PSG and Mbappe’s reps, but an agreement couldn’t be reached. Mbappe openly told PSG that he wants to move to Real Madrid this summer rather than one year from now.
According to the French paper L’Equipe, PSG offered Mbappe a five-year contract worth $150 million that he refused to sign, saying it was “too long.” The club made another attempt with a revised offer, proposing a deal until 2024, which Mbappe also turned down.
PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said Mbappe ‘has no reason to leave” given how motivated he is to win trophies.
“He said he wanted a competitive team, and you can’t have a more competitive team [than the one we put together]. He has no reason to do anything other than stay,” Al-Khelaifi argued.
Jose Felix Diaz, Marca’s journalist in charge of the “Mbappe affair” believes anything can still happen until midnight when the transfer window closes. L’Equipe, on the other hand, sees the forward staying put. “Mbappe shouldn’t join Real Madrid, as the clubs stopped negotiating,” the journal wrote on its front page on Tuesday.
Mbappe is now at -275 to stay with PSG. A move to Real Madrid is at +250, while a shock transfer to Liverpool stands at +3200.