Real Madrid Transfers: Don’t be surprised if Kylian Mbappe officially wants out

Whether or not Real Madrid have the financial capability to sign Kylian Mbappe during the pandemic remains to be seen, but this is going to be THE story in football to watch this summer. There would be no bigger transfer, no move more capable of shaking the game than Mbappe moving from PSG to the Spanish capital. And it’s been a transfer rumored for well over a year, with Real even sparing every cent last summer with 2021 and Mbappe on their mind.

We’ve already heard plenty of rumors about Mbappe, including Josep Pedrerol’s insistence that Mbappe will be coming this summer. 

And these rumors are only going to heat up after PSG’s elimination from the Champions League in the semifinals at the hands of Manchester City.

There is no way to spin things. PSG were horrible in the second half of both matches. They looked ill-disciplined and out of ideas tactically under Mauricio Pochettino, whose appointment, ironically enough, was viewed as a boost to keeping Mbappe.

Real Madrid have a better structure for Kylian Mbappe

Of course, the superstar forward did not even play in the second leg due to an injury. After failing to make an impact in the first leg in a 2-1 loss to City, Mbappe sat on the sidelines and watched as Mauro Icardi performed even worse and both Neymar and Angel Di Maria produced disaster-classes (particularly the latter, who was sent off for a horrid tackle on Fernandinho) without him. PSG did not play their best football in the first leg, but without Mbappe, you never got the feeling they were going to turn this tie around.

Mbappe had to watch what unfolded before his eyes. PSG’s cracks were laid better. The project that Leonardo has failed to advance – his unwarranted ego forcing Thomas Tuchel out – is nothing without Mbappe, and he knows it. He knows he holds all the keys here, and there is a reason why he has not agreed to any extension yet. Why give up the leverage and commit to a club that is faltering in Ligue 1 and reliant on his quality in the Champions League?

Real Madrid is an opportunity for Mbappe to play with an elite composed midfield and defense, instead of units carried by Marquinhos and Marco Verratti. Los Blancos have more depth and better up-and-coming talents like Eder Militao, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, Martin Odegaard, Fede Valverde, Ferland Mendy, and Antonio Blanco. They have the structure that enabled Cristiano Ronaldo to flourish into the world’s biggest athlete and a consistent Champions League winner.

And they have a better manager. Remember Karim Benzema’s “Go-Kart and F1” comment about Olivier Giroud? Mauricio Pochettino is a six-year-old playing checkers, while Zinedine Zidane is a chess grandmaster.

The rumors are going to reach dizzying heights after PSG’s latest defeat. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mbappe wants out of this directionless project in Paris, where the plan was to throw money with reckless abandon and hope a handful of players carried the rest.

In Madrid, there is a plan and a cohesion. That is the place to be. And if you are a Madridista, you best prepare for the speculation that is to follow. I have a feeling it’s about to get interesting and maybe a little dramatic. PSG won’t want to admit defeat.