Real Madrid are going to have an extremely difficult time signing any of their top transfer targets this summer. In fact, “Mission Mbappe” is starting to look more and more like “Mission Impossible” for Florentino Perez.
Although Perez did not rule out signing Kylian Mbappe like he ruled out signing Cristiano Ronaldo, he did admit that without the European Super League, big transfers simply are not feasible. Knowing Perez, I bet he has not thrown in the towel on an Mbappe move, but it’s going to take some serious selling and maneuvering to make a deal for him happen.
But we can tell Real still dream of Mbappe. They need a superstar attacker. Maybe a healthy Eden Hazard can still be that difference-maker, but, to be honest, Real need goals. Mbappe or Erling Haaland can provide the kind of scoring that Los Blancos need over the next decade.
The aftermath of the failed European Super League attempt has complicated things with regard to Mbappe. Not only has it raised questions about Real’s ability to afford both Mbappe’s wages and PSG’s asking price, but it has also raised questions about PSG’s willingness to negotiate with Los Blancos.
After all, PSG did not sign up for the European Super League. Probably not because they were morally opposed to it or anything, but rather because their Qatari ownership saw the importance of not running afoul of FIFA and UEFA when they are the host nation for the upcoming World Cup.
Real Madrid fans should consider Kylian Mbappe unlikely, but not because of the European Super League attempt
I think fears about PSG being less willing to negotiate are unfounded. Honestly, I highly doubt presidents and owners around Europe have changed their opinion of Perez significantly. Smaller clubs surely don’t care for Perez, but did they ever? And the bigger clubs were either working with him or know the game. So why hate on another billionaire for playing it?
PSG’s stance has been clear for the past couple of years. They don’t want to sell Kylian Mbappe. They want to do whatever they can to keep him. But if Mbappe wants out, they’ll have no choice but to sell him, with Real Madrid standing out as the clear favorites due to Mbappe’s preference for the club. I really don’t think anything has changed here.
As for Mbappe, would he be less willing to join Real Madrid after the PR disaster of the Super League? That’s doubtful, too. I don’t think Perez has much to do with Mbappe’s desire to move to Real. He likes the club, the challenge of being the superstar in the spotlight for the most-followed club in the world, and the opportunity to be managed by Zinedine Zidane surely counts for more than having Perez as president.
Essentially, I don’t see how the European Super League attempt significantly changes where Real Madrid stand in trying to sign Kylian Mbappe. As dramatic as the fallout was and as valid as the concerns from fans have been about how it may affect Real in the transfer market, I don’t see any additional impediments here.
Because at the end of the day, the two big barriers are the same as they have always been: Mbappe declining to re-sign with PSG and Real finding the money. The latter is the biggest issue, and it could ultimately be the one that stops Real Madrid from making their dream acquisition. Madridistas know they cannot expect to sign Mbappe. I think some outside the fanbase mistake their eagerness and hope for expectation; they understand the severity of the crisis, even as they are, as ever, optimistic about Perez’s ambition.