How the French superstar might still sign with Real Madrid in 2024 despite the record-breaking single-year offer
After receiving a record-breaking $332 million offer from Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Paris Saint-Germain has allowed Kylian Mbappe to speak with them about personal terms. According to CBS Sports football insider James Benge, the French champions have notified the 24-year-old that he is free to speak with the Saudi Pro League team about a big salary package totaling $776 million. The main component of Al Hilal’s offer is Mbappe’s continued eligibility to join Real Madrid in 2024, a deal PSG believes has already been finalised with a rumoured signing-on fee of almost $178 million.
While his colleagues are in Japan as part of an Asian summer tour that he is not a part of, the French superstar is in Paris training with other undesired Parisian players. PSG’s stance is unchanged: If Mbappe extends his current contract until its 2024 expiration date, he can stay and continue to work on the project. The former Monaco employee has already told his current employers that he will not, under any circumstances, exercise the option to extend his contract until 2025. Mbappe and Al Hilal have not yet had direct negotiations about a potential transfer, and PSG’s approval is dependent on Mbappe.
We analyse the most recent development in the Mbappe future saga.
Is the Saudi offer real?
The Public Investment Fund is backed, yes. Al Hilal want to make Mbappe their most eye-catching acquisition to date. The Saudi powerhouses were Lionel Messi’s club before the renowned Argentine decided to join Inter Miami. Given the scale of the prospective transfer fee and the potential personal terms on offer, this would be a completely new level for Saudi Pro League clubs, who have been spending a lot of money this summer. This is the ideal situation for PSG, who run the risk of losing him for nothing next summer, something they are adamant about preventing.
Would this be a new record?
Neymar’s arrival at PSG in 2017 for over $245 million set the current record; Mbappe, whose transfer from Monaco cost just under $200 million, is currently in second place. Should the France international transfer to Al Hilal for the figures suggested, it would be a new — and probably unchallengeable — record deal, which is a distinction that Mbappe would find appealing. Although he is already among the highest paid athletes on the planet, the additional compensation would elevate him to a new level, but only after striking large business partnerships.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/hKhqYXC7tH
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 24, 2023
Will Mbappe really join Al Hilal?
Although it is too soon to predict whether Mbappe will transfer to Saudi Arabia, there is no denying that this is an intriguing possibility. Al Hilal’s sudden interest offers an alternative to maybe rotting on the bench in Paris over the upcoming season without a new contract, in addition to potentially putting pressure on Real to act quickly to sign the Frenchman. The wealth of Saudi Arabia will make it impossible for European clubs to compete financially, but the announcement that Mbappe is available for grabs may prompt some serious proposals from Premier League clubs and other organisations with considerable financial clout.
What if Real move?
This is a possibility, one that shouldn’t be discounted considering that Real have known for a month or two that Mbappe may be moving this summer. Although getting the France international on a free transfer was the ideal scenario, a sizeable sum of money has been set aside to bring him to Santiago Bernabeu and might be utilised. Since Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco on a loan with an obligation to buy, it should not be ruled out that Real would wish to sign him without paying a transfer fee so that his signing-on bonus goes to the player.
So it is done with PSG?
It’s important to remember that these things can happen at any time, but it seems doubtful that PSG and Mbappe will be partners for very long given last year’s surprising contract extension. Even now, it’s difficult to imagine their relationship improving since it has deteriorated so much this summer. However, neither Al Hilal nor Real’s offer to sign Mbappe right away for a fee is a given. In the event that neither of those two things occurs, either an unexpected suitor approaches Mbappe, or PSG and Mbappe are forced to spend their final season together, which would very definitely be unsavoury for both parties.
