We are set for a big transfer window in the upcoming summer as there are already huge developments as we head toward the conclusion of the ongoing campaign.
Kylian Mbappé is set to call an end to his seven-year chapter at Paris Saint-Germain, the player deciding to leave the French capital as a free agent this summer.
It has become somewhat of a foregone conclusion as to where Mbappé will play come the 2024-25 season, and all (not most) signs point towards Real Madrid.
In February 2024, Mbappé communicated his decision to not trigger an extension in his contract to PSG chief Nasser al-Khelaifi and everyone else that matters at the club, according to a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein.
The Parisian outfit have already started to prepare for life without their biggest player (not just now, but perhaps ever). Indeed, PSG head coach Luis Enrique has started to play Mbappé less frequently, subbing him off in the second half or not starting him in the playing XI altogether, the latter occurring in PSG’s most recent Ligue 1 encounter against Reims on Sunday, March 10.
The former Spain national team manager opted to leave Mbappé out of the starting XI for the home game against Reims, but eventually decided to summon him.
The 25-year-old was brought on in the 73rd minute, with the game delicately poised at 2-2. However, Mbappé could not influence the outcome of the game as the game ended in a stalemate and two dropped points for the reigning Ligue 1 winners.
‘Wish him the best for the future’ – PSG coach Luis Enrique confirms Kylian Mbappe’s imminent departure
Following the 2-2 draw against Reims, Enrique spoke to Amazon Prime Video and wished Mbappé luck for his future in what was a strange message. “I wish all the best to Kylian Mbappé for his future”. “He’s fantastic player and even more as a person. I really wish him all the best”, Enrique said.
As if it wasn’t already clear enough, the manager’s words have more or less confirmed the imminent departure of Mbappé from PSG in the summer.
It is expected that Real Madrid are going to be Mbappé’s most likely destination, with the 2018 World Cup winner finally getting the chance to realise his childhood dream of representing the club he always longed to play for.
It has been a brutally long and exhausting soap opera, but one that seems to be reaching its end once Mbappé completes his move to the Spanish capital. Real Madrid have long been admirers of the French forward, only to be turned down time and again.
After it seemed like Mbappé was just one step away from joining Real Madrid, the former Monaco prospect committed to a new deal in 2022, signing a two-year extension with an option of an additional year.
A year later, Los Blancos were heavily linked with a mega-million move for Mbappé, but the player stayed put in France.
That seems like a distant memory, and the horrors of Mbappé “betraying” Real Madrid, as they like to call it, might not come back to haunt Florentino Pérez and Co. in June 2024. Who knows? Maybe, Real Madrid’s dream signing has already put pen to paper on a pre-contractual agreement.
An ardent sports fan, Parshva grew up watching cricket and dreaming of becoming a cricketer in Mumbai. While he couldn’t become a cricketer, he channeled his passion for sports by writing about it. Parshva started writing in 2019, covering both cricket and football. Over the years, he has featured for Sportskeeda (covering both football and cricket), The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Managing Madrid covering Real Madrid’s women team, GOAL as a football writer, MARCA English, and The Sporting News primarily covering cricket. Parshva has also recorded a few football podcasts and featured on one of India’s biggest radio stations, Red FM 93.5, covering the India vs South Africa game at the 2022 T20 World Cup.