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6 months ago
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This is the end of a long series that began in… 2017. By signing Kylian Mbappé on the gong during the 2017 summer transfer window, Paris Saint-Germain sent a signal to the world of football, after having already recruited Neymar, but whistled start, despite himself, of the countdown. The one concerning the departure of Mbappé to Real Madrid. PSG was just a step for the French striker, and everyone was aware of it. By keeping it for 7 years, the Parisian club has somehow achieved a great feat, as the Madrid train regularly passed through the station. And still, you don’t know everything…
2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, in short, almost every year, Mbappé had the opportunity to leave for Real Madrid. But the climax probably took place in the summer of 2022. PSG thought they had achieved the hardest part, by extending, to the great dismay of the Merengue club, their French international. It was May, and in addition to a salary and pharaonic bonuses, Mbappé had won his case on numerous sporting issues. With the arrival of Luis Campos, in the role of football advisor to President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the promise of a major clean-up of the squad (denied by the main person concerned), and that of prestigious arrivals to enhance his talent .
A 2022 summer transfer window that ruins everything
The plan was clear, PSG was going to play 3-5-2, with a strong striker to accompany Mbappé (Lewandowski), a creative attacking midfielder (Bernardo Silva) and a rough defender (Skriniar). All accompanied by a few newcomers to make up the number (Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Soler, Renato Sanches etc). Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned, Antero Henrique, still present at the club, does not necessarily share the same opinions as Luis Campos. And that annoys the Mbappé clan… and Campos. From July 2022, he let PSG know that he finally wanted a change of scenery.
Rather in charge of departures, Antero Henrique opens the door on one condition: not to Real Madrid. Liverpool tries to rush into the breach but coughs a little at the asking price, €400 million. PSG is in a position of strength, since Mbappé has just extended until 2024, with an additional year as an option. The relationship is therefore strained only a few weeks after the signing of the new contract, and the end of the transfer window will not help anything. Neymar and Messi are still there, Mbappé finds himself a spectator of the rebirth of the Neymar-Messi duo, more involved than ever with the prospect of the World Cup in Qatar in November 2022.
A 2023 summer transfer window that does not solve everything
The rag burns, and it’s the Spanish press, via Marca, which will reveal the bomb first. Mbappé wants to leave PSG. Problem, we are now in October. The attacker does not stop himself from launching a controversy, through an Instagram publication crossed out with the inscription “Pivotgang”, symbol of the discomfort felt about his role, far from that promised a few months earlier. The season ends somehow, with the World Cup cut off. In his mind, everything is clear about what to do next. PSG, determined to keep him until 2025, is doing everything to satisfy him during the 2023 summer transfer window.
The reinforcements are numerous and mainly French, Neymar and Messi leave PSG, Mbappé is dedicated to the center of the project. Enough to turn the situation around again? No, since number 7 sends a letter explaining that he will not lift his additional year as an option. What follows is an unprecedented standoff between President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and Kylian Mbappé, with spicy declarations and above all a sidelining of the player in training. Things finally returned to normal on August 13, as Mbappé finally returned to the group. PSG and the player were able to discuss, and what emerged was a form of confidence in the possibility of a new contract extension…
Summer 2024, the big shake-up
However, when we revealed, on January 7, that Kylian Mbappé chose to leave PSG and join Real Madrid at the end of the season, this had the gift of angering Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. We can also reveal to you that the agreement between Mbappé and Real was concluded at the very beginning of January, a few days before our article, during a meeting held between the two parties. Not informed, the president of PSG tries to reassure himself with the relatively soft denial, published via certain media.
In mid-January, Mbappé requested a meeting with Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. The latter understands that the player has indeed decided to leave, and he will postpone the deadline, in the hope of a new twist in the situation. The president therefore delays the meeting, which will finally take place on February 13 during an interview. Mbappé’s tone is assured, there can be no going back this time. Mbappé does not make it a question of money, and he makes this clear to the Parisian president. Regardless of a possible new offer, he wants a change of scenery to win new titles. It now remains to be seen which ones.
